Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Portland serves as the base for the psychedelic-pop project Unknown Mortal Orchestra, led by New Zealand guitarist and singer Ruban Nielson, who settled in the United States after starting out in the Auckland-formed band The Mint Chicks. Unknown Mortal Orchestra emerged in the early 2010s with tracks released online, driven by a lo-fi sound that blends psychedelic rock, melodic pop and soulful rhythms. The self-titled debut album, released in 2011, established a universe of saturated guitars, filtered vocals and DIY arrangements. II (2013) refined this more melodic writing, while Multi-Love (2015) broadened the palette toward more synthetic textures and funk and R&B influences. With Sex & Food (2018) the group explored a denser, more electric register; the same year they released IC-01 Hanoi, an instrumental record with jazz and ambient touches recorded in Vietnam. The double album V, issued in 2023, continued this evolution by introducing softer atmospheres marked by soft rock and Pacific-inspired sonorities, which the band reproduces on stage with a tightened lineup centered on Nielson’s guitar playing.