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Yves Tumor

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Yves Tumor
Yves Tumor in 2019
Yves Tumor in 2019
Background information
Birth nameSean Lee Bowie
Also known as
  • Teams
  • Bekelé Berhanu
  • Rajel Ali
  • Shanti
  • Yvesie Ray Vaughan
BornFebruary 14, 1990
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • synthesizer
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • bass
  • drums
Years active2010–present
Labels
Websitehttps://yves-tumor.com/

Sean Lee Bowie (born February 14th, 1990), best known by the recording alias Yves Tumor, is an American musician and producer of experimental music, born in Miami, Florida, and currently based in Turin, Italy.[5][6]

To date, they have released five studio albums: When Man Fails You (2015), Serpent Music (2016), Safe in the Hands of Love (2018), Heaven to a Tortured Mind (2020), and Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) (2023).

Life and career

[edit]

Raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Tumor started making music at age 16 as an outlet away from "dull, conservative surroundings." Tumor is self-taught, and plays drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards. Describing their experience growing up in Tennessee as unpleasant, Yves moved at age 20 to San Diego, and then after college, to Los Angeles. They met Mykki Blanco in 2012, later touring for two and a half years throughout Europe and Asia.[7]

In the early 2010s, Tumor recorded as Teams, and made music which AllMusic described as "post-chillwave". They debuted the Yves Tumor project in 2015 with an EP for Berlin's experimental club label Janus, and another one for Blanco's label, Dogfood MG.[8][3][9] That same year, they released their first album, When Man Fails You (which would later be re-released by Apothecary Compositions on April 29, 2016).[10][11]

In September 2016, Tumor signed with PAN Records and released their label debut, Serpent Music. Yves had worked on the album for three years after moving to Leipzig, Germany. The album was recorded between Miami, Leipzig, Los Angeles and Berlin.[7] In Pitchfork's review of the album, critic Andy Beta compared Tumor's musical style to James Ferraro and Dean Blunt, and noted their use of "unsettling percussive loops and field recordings to create a mood as if lost in a strange urban landscape."[12]

In September 2017, Tumor released a compilation album titled Experiencing the Deposit of Faith for free. Later that week, it was revealed through a tour announcement that Tumor had signed to Warp Records. Following the announcement, the artist embarked on a tour with a new audiovisual show.[13][14]

In September 2018, Tumor released their Warp debut, Safe in the Hands of Love, with no prior announcement. It was preceded by the singles "Noid" on July 24, "Licking an Orchid" featuring James K on August 29, and "Lifetime" on September 3. The album received universal acclaim from music critics.[15] Pitchfork's Jayson Greene stated in the review that the album "dwarfs everything the artist has released by several orders of magnitude. The leap is so audacious it's disorienting."[16]

Tumor's fourth album, Heaven to a Tortured Mind, was released on April 3, 2020, preceded on March 3 by the single "Kerosene" featuring Diana Gordon.[17] Alexis Petridis, reviewing the album for The Guardian, awarded it Album of the Week, describing it as "extraordinary: experimental, capable of any genre, with an internal logic powering its shifts in mood.[…] There's real skill involved in coming up with something that sounds coherent while shifting through so many styles."[18]

In October 2020, Tumor said in an interview with Michèle Lamy " I have another EP and a whole album basically not finished, but ready to start finishing. I've been very busy during the quarantine."[19] In December 2020, Tumor released the single "let all the poisons that lurk in the mud seep out" in collaboration with Kelsey Lu, featuring Kelly Moran and Moses Boyd. In July 2021, they released the EP The Asymptotical World, recorded in collaboration with their bandmates, Chris Greatti and Yves Rothman. Tumor went on an international tour throughout 2022, supported by October and the Eyes, Timkoh, and Doss.[20]

In February 2023, Tumor was interviewed by Courtney Love for Interview, in which they briefly hinted at an upcoming album.[21] Shortly after, in March 2023, Tumor released their fifth album, Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds), critically acclaimed as an ambitious, "ecstatic fusion of alt-rock and R&B",[22] "spellbinding art rock",[23] and a "Romantic, corporeal, gothy" offering that disrupts "hierarchies of gender, race, desire...and performance" via its "intense magnification and worship of life, death and spirituality."[24] Tumor was part of the Coachella 2023 lineup.[25]

Musical style

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Tumor's earlier work was compared to that of Dean Blunt and James Ferraro, the latter of whom they have collaborated with; however, their more recent music, such as Heaven to a Tortured Mind, has been likened to Prince and David Bowie.[26][27][28]

Tumor has cited Throbbing Gristle as an influence, saying: "Sonically, Throbbing Gristle (were very inspirational). There's something about their music, like the hypnotic trance vibes, that really influenced me. When I moved to Los Angeles after college, a good friend of mine would always play Chris & Cosey records when we were hanging out. I slowly became obsessed with them and started reading about Genesis P-Orridge and that whole movement."[29]

Personal life

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In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tumor designed furniture and furthered their interest in upholstery: "I just got really into my other hobbies, which include architecture and interior architecture, and urban architecture, but I'm not that good at math, so I wanted to scale everything down. I just decided to just start constructing chairs and couches and stools, but I think I'm going to begin welding as opposed to actual construction."[19]

Backing band

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In the studio and during live performances, Tumor is joined by:

  • Yves Rothman – keyboards, synthesizers, rhythm guitar, sampler, electronics, backing vocals (2019–present)
  • Rhys Hastings – drums (2019–present)
  • Maro Chon – lead guitar (2024–present)

Former members of Tumor's ensemble are:

  • Chris Greatti – lead guitar (2019–2024)
  • Gina Ramirez – bass guitar (2019–2024)

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
BEL
(FL)
[30] 		SCO
[31] 		UK
DL
[32] 		UK
Indie
[33]
When Man Fails You – – – –
Serpent Music
  • Released: September 22, 2016[35]
  • Label: PAN
  • Format: LP, digital download
 – – – –
Safe in the Hands of Love
  • Released: September 5, 2018
  • Label: Warp
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
 – – – –
Heaven to a Tortured Mind
  • Released: April 3, 2020
  • Label: Warp
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
 170 38 29 8
Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)
  • Released: March 17, 2023
  • Label: Warp
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
 – – 34 –

Compilation albums

[edit]
List of compilation albums, with selected details
Title Details
Experiencing the Deposit of Faith
  • Released: September 13, 2017[36]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Extended plays

[edit]
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Details
The Asymptotical World
  • Released: July 15, 2021
  • Label: Warp
  • Format: LP, digital download

Singles

[edit]
List of singles
Title Year Album
"Noid"[37] 2018 Safe in the Hands of Love
"Licking an Orchid"[38]
(featuring James K)
"Lifetime"[39]
"Applaud"
(featuring Hirakish, Napolian, and Anthem)[40] 		2019 Non-album single
"Gospel for a New Century"[41] 2020 Heaven to a Tortured Mind
"Kerosene!"
"Romanticist" / "Dream Palette"[42]
"Jackie" 2021 The Asymptotical World
"God Is a Circle" 2022 Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)
"Echolalia" 2023
"Heaven Surrounds Us Like a Hood"

Guest appearances

[edit]
List of guest appearances
Title Year Artist Album
"Histrionic I" 2015 Mykki Blanco Mykki Blanco Presents C-ORE[43]
"Childish"
"Histrionic II"
"Histrionic III / Skunk of the Earth"
"Limerence" 2017 None Mono No Aware[44][45]
"Reanimator" 2020 Joji Nectar
"Let All the Poisons That Lurk in the Mud Seep Out" Kelsey Lu, Kelly Moran, Moses Boyd Let All the Poisons That Lurk in the Mud Seep Out
"Perfectly Not Close To Me" 2022 Willow Coping Mechanism

Remixes

[edit]
List of remixes
Title Year Artist Album
"Zure"
(Yves Tumor Obsession Edit) 		2017 Ryuichi Sakamoto Async – Remodels
"The Altar"
(Ruined By Yves Tumor) 		2018 Alice Glass Alice Glass (Remixes)[46]
"Smoke"
(Remix) 		Blood Orange, Yves Tumor, Ian Isiah Smoke (Remix)[47]

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated Work Result Ref
2019 Libera Awards Record of the Year Safe in the Hands of Love Nominated [48]
Best Dance/Electronic Record Won
Best Outlier Record Nominated
2020 AIM Independent Music Awards Best Independent Track "Gospel for a New Century" Nominated [49]
2021 Libera Awards Record of the Year Heaven to a Tortured Mind Nominated [50]
Best Outlier Record Nominated
2022 Video of the Year "Jackie" Nominated [51]
AIM Independent Music Awards Best Independent Track Nominated [52]

Notes

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  1. ^ Re-released by Apothecary Compositions on April 29, 2016, on cassette and digital download.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Hutchinson, Kate (September 22, 2018). "One to watch: Yves Tumor". The Guardian. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Frank, Alex (January 11, 2017). "The Disgusting Beauty of Enigmatic Experimentalist Yves Tumor". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Simpson, Paul. "Yves Tumor | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  4. ^ Torres, Eric (December 8, 2020). "The 50 Best Albums of 2020". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  5. ^ McDermott, Patrick D. (October 5, 2016). "FADER Mix: Yves Tumor". The Fader. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  6. ^ "Bandcamp: Yves Tumor". Bandcamp. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Bulut, Selim (September 20, 2016). "Yves Tumor is making mood music in spiritual solitude". Dazed. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Ballard, Thea (September 23, 2017). "Yves Tumor: Experiencing the Deposit of Faith Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  9. ^ Pearl, Max (September 1, 2016). "RA News: PAN signs Yves Tumor for debut album, Serpent Music". Resident Advisor. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  10. ^ Clare Welsh, April (September 1, 2016). "Mykki Blanco affiliate Yves Tumor to release Serpent Music on PAN". Fact. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "When Man Fails You | Apothecary Compositions". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  12. ^ Beta, Andy (October 6, 2016). "Yves Tumor: Serpent Music Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  13. ^ Ryce, Andrew (September 15, 2017). "RA News: Yves Tumor signs to Warp Records". Resident Advisor. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  14. ^ Bowe, Miles (September 15, 2017). "Yves Tumor signs to Warp, releases new album Experiencing The Deposit Of Faith". Fact. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  15. ^ "Safe in the Hands of Love by Yves Tumor Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  16. ^ Greene, Jayson (September 7, 2018). "Yves Tumor: Safe in the Hands of Love Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  17. ^ "Listen to Yves Tumor's New Song "Kerosene"". Pitchfork. March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  18. ^ Petridis, Alexis (April 2, 2020). "Yves Tumor: Heaven to a Tortured Mind review – strong, wrong songs of a rare genius". The Guardian. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Yves Tumor — Myhtology and Manipulation (Flaunt)".
  20. ^ Colón, Izzy (February 16, 2022). "Yves Tumor Unveils Boundary-Pushing Video For 'Secrecy Is Incredibly Important To The Both of Them'". Spin. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Love, Courtney (February 22, 2023). ""You Put Me on the Spot": Yves Tumor Meets Courtney Love". Interview Magazine. Jason Nikic. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  22. ^ Greene, Jayson. "Review: Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  23. ^ Campbell, Erica (March 20, 2023). "Yves Tumor – 'Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)' review: spellbinding art-rock". NME. NME Networks. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  24. ^ Mistry, Anupa. "Yves Tumor's disruptive pop-cultural synthesis". NPR Music. NPR. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  25. ^ "Coachella 2023 Weekend 2 Lineup & Schedule: All the Set Times You Need to Know". Pitchfork. April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  26. ^ "Yves Tumor: Serpent Music". Pitchfork.
  27. ^ "Yves Tumor's attempt at rock on 'Heaven to a Tortured Mind' is their most gratifying release yet". April 13, 2020.
  28. ^ "Yves Tumor: Heaven to a Tortured Mind". Pitchfork.
  29. ^ "Yves Tumor is making mood music in spiritual solitude". September 20, 2016.
  30. ^ "Heaven to a Tortured Mind - Yves Tumor" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 - Week of April 10, 2020". Official Charts. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  32. ^ Peak positions:
  33. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 - Week of April 10, 2020". Official Charts. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  34. ^ Mashurova, Nina (July 2, 2015). "Yves Tumor, When Man Fails You". Impose. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  35. ^ "Serpent Music | Yves Tumor". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  36. ^ Durston, Tom (September 16, 2017). "Yves Tumor signs to Warp Records and offers free compilation 'Experiencing The Deposit Of Faith'". Inverted Audio. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  37. ^ "Noid - Single by Yves Tumor". Apple Music. July 25, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  38. ^ "Licking an Orchid (feat. James K) - Single by Yves Tumor". Apple Music. August 29, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  39. ^ "Lifetime - Single by Yves Tumor". Apple Music. September 3, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  40. ^ "WARP - Applaud - Yves Tumor". Warp. September 10, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  41. ^ "Gospel For A New Century - Single by Yves Tumor". Apple Music. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  42. ^ "Romanticist / Dream Palette by Yves Tumor". Spotify. March 30, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  43. ^ "Mykki Blanco Presents C-ORE | Mykki Blanco". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  44. ^ Richardson, Mark (April 4, 2017). "Various Artists: Mono No Aware Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  45. ^ Witz, Jake (March 17, 2017). "Songs We Love: Yves Tumor, 'Limerence'". NPR. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  46. ^ "Alice Glass - Remixes (2018, Red Translucent With White Smoke, Vinyl)". Discogs. June 29, 2018.
  47. ^ "Smoke (Remix) by Blood Orange & Yves Tumor & Ian Isiah on Amazon Music". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  48. ^ Courtney, Ian (March 28, 2019). "Nominees Announced For A2IM's 2019 Libera Awards". CelebrityAccess. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  49. ^ "AIM Awards Winners 2020". AIM Awards. August 27, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  50. ^ Brandle, Lars (April 2, 2020). "Chance the Rapper, FKA Twigs, Courtney Barnett & More Shortlisted For 2020 A2IM Libera Awards". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  51. ^ Aswad, Jem (March 23, 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  52. ^ "AIM Independent Music Awards 2022 Winners & Nominees". AIM Awards. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
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