Ryan Hemsworth has signed to Topshelf Records for Numbskull, his first album since 2018's Elsewhere, due out October 21, Pitchfork reported on August 12.
The Canadian producer said lead single "One Step" grew out of listening to old Three 6 Mafia tapes and 1990s UK rave records. "I imagined this would probably only work with a rapper," Hemsworth said in a statement, but around that time he had started sending production ideas to Illuminati Hotties' Sarah Tudzin, and her enthusiasm for the track reshaped how he approached the rest of the record: giving collaborators "wild cards" rather than material suited to their own projects.
That approach carries across Numbskull's 12 tracks. Nana Lourdes features on "I Missed You More," MSpaint on "No One Else," Tegan and Sara on "Never Learned," and Allie on "Atypical," alongside Tudzin's contribution and instrumental cuts including "Vortex," "Toy" and closer "Shifting and Turning."
Pitchfork describes Numbskull as moving through trip-hop, electroclash, hyperpop and rave, continuing the genre-blending that has run through Hemsworth's career since Elsewhere in 2018.
Hemsworth has not announced his own headlining tour behind the record, but is set to support George Clanton on the road in November, part of a fall calendar MusicSuey is tracking on the release calendar alongside the rest of the new electronic and pop releases.
The facts
- Numbskull is Ryan Hemsworth's first album since 2018's Elsewhere
- It is out October 21 via Topshelf Records
- Lead single "One Step" is already out
- Nana Lourdes, MSpaint, Tegan and Sara and Allie each feature on a track
- Illuminati Hotties' Sarah Tudzin also contributes to the album
- Hemsworth will support George Clanton on tour in November
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