MOTO SOLO (The Warlocks, QOTSA) unleash new single ‘History Crept On Me’

Los Angeles project MOTO SOLO is back with a brand-new single, History Crept On Me—a shimmering, synth-driven cut co-produced with none other than Queens of the Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman.

The track follows a run of moody, New Wave-inspired releases this year, including the Depeche Mode-flavoured There’s Another Way and its Gui Boratto remix, plus the hypnotic Celebration Sound. On History Crept On Me, frontman Bobby Tamkin leans into his dark, brooding baritone against lush synth pads and glistening textures, delivering something that feels both cinematic and deeply personal.

Tamkin explains: “Lyrically, History Crept on Me speaks to the quiet chaos within—a moment when you’re lost or unraveling, and someone from your past returns, just when you need them most. After creating the video, I realized another meaning too: sometimes all it takes is a friend’s presence to pull you out of your deepest fears.”

From Drums to the Frontman’s Mic

If Tamkin’s name rings a bell, it’s because he’s lived about a dozen lifetimes in music already. In the ‘90s, he pounded the drums for Seattle experimental rock outfit Hovercraft, a project that saw him sharing stages with Foo Fighters, The Melvins, and even jamming with members of Soundgarden and Mudhoney in Seattle’s legendary underground scene. Later, he returned to LA, playing with The Warlocks and working alongside heavyweights like Flea and John Frusciante, before pivoting into songwriting.

That shift gave birth to Xu Xu Fang, his psych-rock collective that won praise from Rolling Stone, The Onion AV Club, and MOJO for its dark, expansive soundscapes. Their music found its way into shows like Gossip Girl, Bates Motel, and The Originals, and even into advertising campaigns for global brands like Sephora. Xu Xu Fang’s take on Bowie’s China Girlbecame a standout on a star-studded tribute compilation—no small feat when you’re up against Bowie’s biggest disciples.

Enter MOTO SOLO

After years behind the kit, behind the curtain, or behind the scenes, Tamkin wanted a new challenge. MOTO SOLO is exactly that—a project where he’s front and center, writing, producing, and singing for the first time. “It was the only musical challenge left,” he says.

In 2023, he started building the debut MOTO SOLO record in his home studio, eventually teaming up with Michael Shuman to bring the songs to life. With GRAMMY-winning engineer Michael Harris (Lana Del Rey, Arctic Monkeys) at the console, the recordings took on a widescreen feel—equal parts shadowy synth-pop and hard-hitting rock ambition.

Where It Lands Sonically

MOTO SOLO pulls from the drama of Depeche Mode, the pulse of New Order, and the theatrical thrust of Van Halen-era David Lee Roth. It’s a dark, danceable mix, full of hypnotic grooves and Tamkin’s cavern-deep vocals. Or, as Consequence once put it about his songwriting: “stunningly beautiful moments amidst the chaotic buildup of spiraling distorted guitars.”

History Crept On Me is just the latest glimpse at what’s to come—and it feels like Tamkin’s most complete musical statement yet.