tUnE-yArDs

Overview

Three studio albums in and tUnE-yArDs (real name Merrill Garbus) is still showing no signs of creative predictability. She might have proclaimed to have become "bored with herself" following the 2011 release of breakthrough record Whokill, but listening to new full-length Nikki Nack (released in May) you'd never guess it. Rousing tribal beats and vocal gymnastics of Olympic proportions rub shoulders with lazy Sunday afternoon reggae grooves and no-holds-barred, politicised lyrics.

"I don't want to just say, 'Let's dance all night', as if there's nothing wrong with the world," Garbus told The Guardian in a recent interview. "Because that's a big old lie." She certainly doesn't preach, but she does write about things that matter: Western culpability in developing world poverty, racism and disintegrating American neighbourhoods. At the same time, she's all about seeing some serious "arse shaking" at her shows.

Winging our way to play Splendour, she'll also treat us to two servings on the side: one at Melbourne's Howler on July 24 and the other at Sydney's OAF on July 28.