London-based electronic songwriter and producer Tusks, aka Emily Underhill, is getting ready to drop her third album, Gold, following 2017’s Dissolve and 2019’s Avalanche. The album will be released on the 12th of April this year, and she has also just released her new single, “Adore”.
The album was worked on in her London home and on trips to Devon, inspiring many songs. In the southwest of England, Devon provided much-needed space and isolation from the London share-house, particularly post-pandemic. Returning home to London, she produced the album with her partner Tom Andrews.
Writing about her latest single, Tusks writes: “Adore is about falling in love with someone at the start of a relationship when you’re asking yourself if it’s a good idea, if you should fall for that person or whether you should keep yourself guarded.”
The album is synth-heavy, varied from ambient and chilled tracks to slow-building ragers. A common thread is the powerful and pure voice of Tusks, as well as her willingness to showcase her vulnerability. It has an authenticity that can’t help but feel immensely cathartic. The complexities of relationships, emotions and the all the nuances of what makes us human are beautifully conveyed.
About the album, Tusks writes: “A lot of this album was inspired by contrasting experiences. Processing a breakup and then falling in love again. Being constantly surrounded by people in lockdown, then suddenly being completely alone and free. Being in the city vs being in nature. We wanted to echo these contrasts in the production of the music so constantly moved between lo-fi and hi-fi production – sampling our own drum beats, recording them through compressed tin can mics and processing through loads of analogue gear and a 404 then switching to cleaner, larger sounding kits achieved by recording with mics in back rooms and the ceiling to give the impression of space.
There was a huge analogue influence on the production and mix too by using loads of analogue synths and modular, putting a lot of the stems through tape and getting to be really creative with using delay throws and feedback on the 501 Space Echo. It was such a fun process and allowed Tom and I to delve into doing exactly what we love.”
Tusks has performed with some formidable artists, and played at incredible venues. She has supported Khurangbin, Ásgeir, Bear’s Den and Submotion Orchestra. She had her first European and UK headline tour at the start of 2020, which included nights at London’s prestigious Village Underground and Berlin’s legendary Berghain Panorama Bar. She is about to head out on another UK and European tour, kicking off in Poland on the 27th of February. Head to her website for more details.
You can pre-order the album HERE – including vinyl, CDs and other merch.
You can keep up to date with Tusks on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X
