Back in September, we marveled at the ability of the Naked And Famous to continually release epic, skyscraper-tall electronic pop jams. Now, the New Zealand-born, Los Angeles-based group are pairing a striking visual story with new album Simple Forms, which dropped this past Friday (October 14) via their own label Somewhat Damaged and a new partnership with New York’s Kobalt Label Services.
The latest visual clip comes from Simple Forms album cut “The Water Beneath You”, and you can watch it exclusively on Vanyaland below.
Each of the Naked And Famous’ visuals for Simple Forms combine to tell an overarching story. And there’s a lot to discuss; the band’s third album is the first since the personal breakup of the Naked And Famous’ two chief songwriters and members, guitarist/vocalist/producer Thom Powers and vocalist/keyboardist Alisa Xayalith. The couple had been together for eight years — the Naked And Famous became a band in 2007, mind you — and the split nearly derailed their entire project.
“There’s pain and passion behind this art,” Xayalith says about Simple Forms. “Pop techniques are all about maximum impact. And it’s not like this is an album of bangers but it’s the most immediate thing we’ve ever done.”
The visual for “The Water Beneath You” takes us on a 3D journey through a desert highway landscape, and the lyrics flashing across the screen give each potent line from Xayalith and Powers a heightened sense of urgency.
Watch it below, and scan through all the upcoming Naked And Famous North American tour dates, which includes a November 10 stop at Royale in Boston.
The Naked And Famous 2016 North American tour:
10/26 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
10/27 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
10/28 – Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theatre
10/30 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
10/31 – Denver, CO @ The Ogden
11/02 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave
11/04 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
11/05 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
11/06 – Chicago, IL @ The Riviera
11/07 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
11/08 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
11/10 – Boston, MA @ Royale
11/12 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
11/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
11/15 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theater
11/17 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
11/18 – Richmond, VA @ The National
11/19 – Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
11/20 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
11/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
11/23 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
11/25 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
11/26 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
11/28 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Marquee
11/30 – Oakland, CA @ The Fox Theater