TOBY DRIVER is streaming his upcoming new album, titled They Are The Shield, in full via Pop Matters. The six track album is the follow up to 2017's Madonnawhore, and will be released on September 21 via Blood Music. They Are The Shield pick up where its predecessor left off - continuing with TOBY DRIVER's exploration of ballads. Additionally, DRIVER has announced a run of European tour dates in support of the album.
LISTEN TO THEY ARE THE SHIELD IN FULL VIA POP MATTERS:
https://www.popmatters.com/toby-driver-they-are-shield-2606232402.html
Best known for his work with prolific experimental band, Kayo Dot, TOBY DRIVER lays bare a more personal side on his solo work. The explorative and open-ended nature of Kayo Dot carries over, and TOBY DRIVER's insatiable appetite for musical exploration - which may often take him to strange and unyielding places - manifests on They Are The Shield as expansive, emotive and relatable ballads.
As a multi-instrumentalist and frequent collaborator, TOBY DRIVER is no stranger to building musical bridges or blurring genre boundaries. However, with They Are The Shield, he enlisted the talents of a selection of classical musicians to add another layer of depth to his compositions. Not one to do things by halves, he enlisted the Grammy-nominated artist and composer, Pauline Kim Harris; violinist, Conrad Harris; keyboardist, composer and producer, Kelly Moran; drummer and composer, Brian Chase; and vocalist, Bridget Bellavia.
Recorded at EastSide Sound studio in New York with 5-time nominated 3-time Grammy Award'winning audio engineer, Marc Urselli (whose credits include Nick Cave, John Zorn, Lou Reed, Marianne Faithful and countless others), the resulting album is a collection of deeply personal, reflective and autobiographical ballads that pinpoint a particular time in TOBY DRIVER's life. The six songs ruminate on the small details; on life and relationships, and the turning of pages. The sound evoked is impossible to attribute to a single genre; a swirling brew of unrestrained influences and inspirations that focuses on effusing emotion, and at times rawness.
TOBY DRIVER will be embarking on an extensive run of dates in support of They Are The Shield. To stay up to date with new shows including US/the rest of the world, click HERE.
https://www.songkick.com/artists/115336-toby-driver/calendar
Of the European tour, DRIVER comments:
"I'm happy to announce these upcoming European and Mideast tour dates, with support from DEL JUDAS! My lineup on this tour will be the supergroup of: Timba Harris on violin (Secret Chiefs 3, Estradasphere, Duo Probosci), Charlie Schmid (Del Judas, Vaura, Tombs) on drums, and Nick Hudson (Academy of Sun) on keys. Some venues have yet to be announced, but we wanted to get this info out to you now. We'll also be adding a few dates to these in the coming weeks!"
16.11. TR Istanbul @ Peyote §
18.11. ARM Yerevan @ tba â€
19.11. GE Tbilisi @ tba â€
21.11. IL Tel Aviv @ tba â€
24.11. SK Bratislava @ Kulturák Club*
25.11. SI Bistrica ob Sotli @ Klub Metulj *
26.11. HU Szeged @ Jazz Kocsma *
27.11. SRB Novi Sad @ CK 13 *
28.11. SRB Belgrade @ Elektropionir *
29.11. BG Sofia @ Mixtape 5 *
30.11. RO Timisoara @ Manufactura *
04.12. DE Hamburg @ MS Stubnitz *
08.12. IE Dublin @ The Workmans Club *
09.12. IE Cork @ The Roundy *
12.12. NL Haarlem @ Patronaat *
16.12. DK Copenhagen @ Loppen *
18.12. PL Warsaw @ Klub Spatif *
19.12. PL Krakow @ Klub RE *
21.12. DE Dresden @ Jazzclub Tonne *
22. 12 CZ Prague @ tba*
* with support from Del Judas
†duo with Timba Harris
§ solo
They Are The Shield is released via Blood Music on September 21. Pre-orders are available now.
https://www.facebook.com/tobydriverofficial/
