Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Unknown Mortal Orchestra, the psych-pop project of Ruban Nielson, will play on March 13, 2026 at the Metropol – Neues Schauspielhaus in Berlin. Originally from Auckland and now based in the United States, Nielson has, since the early 2010s, crafted a distinctive lo-fi approach in which psychedelic rock, melodic pop hooks and soul rhythms interlock. The self-titled debut from 2011 laid the foundation, II (2013) sharpened the melodies, Multi-Love (2015) opened the sound to synths, funk and R&B. In 2018 came the denser, more electric Sex & Food and the instrumental IC-01 Hanoi, tinged with jazz and ambient. On the double album V (2023) softer soft‑rock tones and Pacific influences appear, which the band translates into a focused live setup.

In Berlin, UMO picks up precisely there: bone‑dry grooves, distorted yet finely wrought guitars, and Nielson’s filtered voice, which oscillates between intimacy and drive. The set spans the band’s discography and places new pieces alongside older favorites — with a slim line‑up, clean edges and the springing rhythm that holds these songs together.