Over the course of more than a decade, Tinlicker have consistently pushed boundaries
in the world of electronic music, cultivating a sound that is both unique and distinct to
them. Their use of real instruments, ranging from strings to keys to horns, has long been
a staple of the project that helps to separate their sound from other, more traditional
dance acts. Beyond the instrumentation, their music also has an unusual and powerful
propensity to evoke an array of feelings, from euphoria to sadness, and everything in
between. It’s music one can dance to, no doubt, but it’s also music that tells a
compelling story.
After their breakthrough in 2021 with the single ‘Because You Move Me’, Tinlicker - ahead
of their album ‘Cold Enough For Show’- faced quite a bit of change; they left their long time label, Anjunadeep for [PIAS] and transitioned from exclusively performing DJ sets to
a format that included live/band performances. These moves were risky but well calculated, particularly for a duo that’s not only comfortable taking the road less
traveled, but also saw these strategic choices as necessary next steps to realize the
creative direction of their next album. The result is a masterclass of an album that
balances innovation with quality.
What stands out most about ‘Cold Enough For Snow’ is its sonic diversity. The album
engages a variety of styles, from melodic (like ‘Glasshouse’) to indie-electronic (‘This
Life’ and ‘Nothing To Lose’), to clubbier, more techno-leaning instrumentals, such as
‘Blowfish’ and ‘Revolution.’ It even includes a track without their customary four-on-the-
floor beats, ‘Strawberry.’ Tinlicker produced the collaboration alongside Metropole
Orkest, Netherlands-based jazz and pop orchestra with whom they performed to open
ADE in 2023. The vocalists on their music (Hero Baldwin, Brian Molko, Nathan
Nicholson, Julia Church) both complement Tinlicker’s production across the album and
breathe further life into it. The last years few the Dutchies hit the road for headline tours
across Europe and North America among festivals like Pinkpop, Sziget, III Points, South
Facing and Coachella.
Tinlicker is here to push boundaries for the sake of art, and chase what they’re
passionate about rather than choosing to blend in and play it safe. “We don’t like living
safe,” one of the members once said. When it comes to making music, “there’s only one
rule: we have to like it.”
