Bonnaroo Band of the Day: Wild Nothing

Though he’s joined by a set backing band live, Wild Nothing is, for all intents and purposes, the complete brainchild of singer/multi-instrumentalist Jack Tatum. Tatum went from his dorm room-recorded, surprise breakout debut Gemini in 2010 to his hyped and massively well-received (at least in the blogosphere) 2012 followup Nocturne. Noturne not only cemented Wild Nothing’s status as a critical force to be reckoned with, but landed on countless year-end lists from high-profile magazines and websites. Wild Nothing isn’t exactly blazing new trails with his shimmering, synthy, ’80s throwback dream pop sound, but he’s doing something many of his stylistic peers fail to do- writing some of the strongest, most interesting, and compelling compositions of the scene, which fully justifies his committed nostalgic channeling and sets him apart from many similar acts. Genre aside, Wild Nothing is simply a great band and one not to miss at this summer’s Bonnaroo.

Tatum’s voice is as important a part of Wild Nothing’s appeal as his nearly flawless taste in musical texture. Channeling Robert Smith at times, then just as effortlessly bouncing to buzzier, more contemporary delivery akin to peers like Tame Impala, Tatum’s earnest, dreamy style is a perfect compliment to his lyrical prowess and melodic sensibilities. Wild Nothing lives in a scene where “cool” is a strong currency, but hype doesn’t always translate to commercial success. Fortunately, Jack Tatum isn’t striving for coolness or hype, so much as he’s making well-written, passionate music in homage to a scene that is often co-opted but rarely done justice these days. As a result, we think he’s got a better chance than most of transcending the indie dream pop scene and someday becoming a real mass appeal artist. He’s on our must-see list for Bonnaroo and we think he should be on yours too!

Listen | “Shadow”

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Watch | “Paradise” (Official Music Video)