Tunde Adebimpe, the lead singer of the band TV on the Radio, is releasing his debut solo album “Thee Black Boltz.” The album reflects Adebimpe’s journey through trauma and grief, especially during the pandemic. “In 2019, I was doing a lot of free writing to get ideas and put messy thoughts into a place,” Adebimpe said. “I was visualizing a way out of a pretty heavy period of grief that I was in.”
Many songs on “Thee Black Boltz” were written during the pandemic, a time of global panic and a sense of doom.
Despite setbacks like studio robberies and rejected demos, Adebimpe kept going. Thieves stole 15 years of archives and his laptop from his garage-studio, but left behind a hard drive—a “weird act of charity.” This led him to rediscover his old 4-track recorder and half-finished songs, which he re-demoed. Adebimpe’s prolific career includes acting roles in “Twisters,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.” He has also collaborated with artists like Massive Attack, Leftfield, Run the Jewels, and the supergroup Nevermen.
“The thing about being in TV on the Radio is that whenever we’ve decided to get together to record, everyone brings a lot of new ideas. We always have a surplus of songs,” said Adebimpe. “But I wrote these demos, and I didn’t want to abandon them.”
“Thee Black Boltz” reveals a shift in mood from TV on the Radio’s urgency and intensity.
Journey through grief and creativity
It offers more space for introspection, whimsy, and emotional candor. Over 11 tracks, Adebimpe navigates heartbreak, drama, frustration, and existential musings.
The new track “Drop” exemplifies this introspection with Adebimpe’s plea in the face of death: “We’re gonna feel it when we drop / Send no flowers / The visions never stop / Of this life / And a time / We can all come together / Burn so bright / And rise into the night.”
Adebimpe’s reflection on life and death became painfully real when his younger sister passed away in 2021. “I had to pause everything to react,” he said. “Making things is a great way to process.
I took the messy feelings, joyous feelings, and downloaded them into free writing, making demos.”
His sister’s memory is elegantly captured in the song “ILY” on the album. “That song is entirely for her,” said Adebimpe. “It’s a simple, clear expression of gratitude for this person you’re lucky to land with in the universe.
You can’t choose your family, but she was the absolute best.”
Tunde Adebimpe’s “Thee Black Boltz” is a testament to his authenticity, both in TV on the Radio and as a solo artist. The album is set to be released soon.
