Tanukichan – Circles
Tanukichan, the musical project of Oakland, CA’s Hannah van Loon, has been a prominent figure in modern shoegaze music since 2016, when she first collaborated with Chaz Bear of Toro y Moi. Together, they released an EP and two full-length albums under Bear’s Company Records, culminating in 2023’s GIZMO, which was released in 2023 to widespread acclaim and launched van Loon on a year of touring with artists like Alex G, Alvvays and Melanie Martinez.
With her new EP Circles, out September 20th, 2024, via Carpark Records, van Loon ventures into new territory by teaming up with a new producer for the first time – Franco Reid.
Today, Tanukichan is sharing the first single from that EP, a track called “City Bus.”
The genesis of their partnership dates back to the GIZMO campaign, when Reid noticed van Loon wearing an Incubus shirt in a press photo on Instagram. Intrigued by whether or not van Loon was a genuine fan, he sent her a DM. Their shared musical interest sparked a dialogue that eventually led to the creation of the single “NPC” in 2023.
There is a notable shift on Circles when you consider the first three Tanukichan releases were produced by a pioneer of the chillwave genre. With van Loon’s consistently dreamy songwriting and Reid at the helm, Tanukichan enters new sonic territory that feels larger, arena-ready, and more like a highspeed night drive than the hazy summer dream of its predecessors.
Lead single “City Bus,” offers a reflection on van Loon’s childhood bus rides in San Francisco, evoking the stop-and-go rhythm of commuter life through hard-hitting drums and heavy guitar feedback phasing in and out of the mix. Themes of self-reflection and societal belonging permeate the track, echoing van Loon’s ongoing personal journey.
Van Loon says of the track:
“This song is meant to be a little disjointed, stream of consciousness, made from memories and also the present. Dealing with ideas of identity and my place in the world and society. When I heard the initial demo Franco sent to me and starting writing over it I was brought back to my childhood in SF, riding the bus everywhere through the city. Feeling the constant start and stop motion making me sway and keep my balance while watching the city go by, surrounded by all the different looking people, sounds and smells in SF.”
In support of the EP, Tanukichan has announced a headline US tour in the fall.
Tour Dates
10/14/2024 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis
10/16/2024 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry
10/17/2024 – Boston, MA – Middle East Downstairs
10/18/2024 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/27/2024 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Atrium at the Catalyst
10/28/2024 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
10/29/2024 – San Francisco, CA – Independent
10/31/2024 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
11/1/2024 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
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