New album out April 18 via Fuzz Club
UK and European tour dates announced
Austin-to-Montreal psychedelic supergroup MIEN are back with ‘MIIEN,’ their long-awaited second album, arriving April 18 via Fuzz Club. Ahead of the release, the band unveils their hypnotic new track Empty Sun, a swirling, otherworldly trip through zooming synths, driving guitars, and intricate beats.
MIEN—featuring Alex Maas (The Black Angels), Rishi Dhir (Elephant Stone), John-Mark Lapham (The Earlies), and Robb Kidd (Golden Dawn Arkestra)—continue their deep dive into boundless sonic experimentation. Following recent single Evil People, Empty Sun offers another glimpse into the band’s shape-shifting sound, blending space-rock propulsion with psychedelic dreamscapes.
On the track, the band shares: “Like many of our songs, ‘Empty Sun’ started as a loop and a lyric-less vocal demo from Alex. Over time, we passed it around, each layering in our own textures and ideas—John-Mark introduced distinct sections and samples, Robb laid down countless drum takes to perfect the pulse, and Rishi teamed up with Elephant Stone’s Robbie to weave in warped, colossal guitar lines. The result is a track that roars to life, embodying the ‘mean’ (MIEN) energy we thrive on.”
Watch the Empty Sun video via YouTube below.
Breaking the mold of modern psychedelia
In a landscape where the term “psych” often feels formulaic, MIEN break free, pushing the genre’s boundaries with fearless sonic exploration. ‘MIIEN’ builds on the foundations of their critically acclaimed 2018 debut, fusing ‘60s psychedelia with modern electronic textures, krautrock grooves, and cinematic expanses.
The seeds of MIEN’s collaboration were planted back in 2004, when Rishi Dhir (Elephant Stone) first crossed paths with Alex Maas (The Black Angels) at SXSW. That chance meeting sparked years of creative exchanges, leading to the eventual formation of MIEN. John-Mark Lapham’s electronic alchemy and production wizardry soon became integral to the band’s sonic DNA, and in 2018, drummer Robb Kidd (Golden Dawn Arkestra, Alex Maas) completed the lineup.
Recorded across Montreal, Abilene, and Austin, Texas, ‘MIIEN’ captures the band’s uniquely fluid creative process. Ideas were passed back and forth—loops, grooves, vocal fragments—until they evolved into fully realized, richly textured compositions.
Rishi Dhir on their process: “A simple idea can become something monumental when each of us adds our own stamp to it. There’s an organic magic in that.”
During rare in-person sessions—most notably during South by Southwest—MIEN brought their ideas to life in real time, adding an electrifying immediacy to the final recordings.
With its dense layers, hypnotic rhythms, and fearless experimentation, ‘MIIEN’ is a testament to the band’s collective vision, seamlessly blending their distinct musical perspectives into a singular, transcendent experience.
John-Mark Lapham on the journey: “Working with these guys has been one of the most inspiring experiences of my career. Our synergy is seamless, and this album is just the beginning of the next chapter.”
MIEN live dates
UK & European Tour 2024 – Tickets on sale now
April 28 – Portsmouth, UK – Kola
April 29 – Leeds, UK – The Attic
April 30 – Manchester, UK – YES Basement
May 2 – Margate, UK – Where Else?
May 3 – Brighton, UK – Hope & Ruin
May 4 – London, UK – Moth Club
May 7 – Paris, FR – Supersonic
May 10 – Eindhoven, NL – Fuzz Club Festival
May 11 – Munich, DE – Import Export
May 13 – Berlin, DE – Kantine am Berghain
Get tickets here: MIEN.lnk.to/tickets
‘MIIEN’ – Out April 18
Tracklist:
- Evil People
- Counterbalance
- Silent Golden
- Mirror
- How Could You Run
- Empty Sun
- Tungsten
- Knocking On Your Door
- Slipping Away
- Morning Ech
Pre-order ‘MIIEN’ here: http://mien.lnk.to/MIIEN
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