“It’s Marika’s rawness that makes Any Human Friend such an emotive and compelling album” - ★★★★ ½ DIY

Marika Hackman’s internationally acclaimed new album Any Human Friend is out today, Friday, August 9th in North and South America from Sub Pop, and the rest of the world through AMF Recordings.

Stream the album now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

The powerful, sexually-charged album, which is led by the highlights “i’m not where you are,” “the one,” “all night,” ”hand solo,” and “blow,” was produced by Hackman and David Wrench (Frank Ocean, the xx, Lets Eat Grandma). She will embark on a headlining North American tour this October and November with support from Hardly Art artists Girl Friday, who will also act as her backing band for the entire tour.

Marika Hackman has also scheduled a Reddit “Indieheads” AMA for Wednesday, August 14th at 12:30 pm PDT/3 pm EDT.

Any Human Friend is now available from Sub Pop. LP purchases through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America will receive the limited Loser edition on Salmon-colored vinyl (while supplies last).

Marika Hackman Tour Dates + Ticket Links

Marika Hackman unveils the video for latest single “the one,” directed by Louis Bhose (Michael Kiwanuka, Lewis Capaldi, Loyle Carner). “the one” is the second single from Marika’s forthcoming third album Any Human Friend, out August 9th from Sub Pop in North and South America and AMF Records for the rest of the world. 
 
Marika says of “the one” it “is probably the poppiest song I’ve ever written. I loved the idea of inhabiting this ridiculous arrogant rock star character who has totally fucked their career by writing too many sad songs.” The video for “the one” sees Marika’s rock star alter-ego come to life within a photocopier. By the end of the video, Marika is repulsed by the augmented reality she has created, she takes a baseball bat to it and destroys it forever. 
 
Director Louis Bhose reflects on the process of the video’s conception:
 
Marika: “I want to do a performance vid in a photocopier, where the imagined rockstar in me performs with gusto as the mediocre, let-down version of me watches.” 
Hack Video Director: “Say no more.”
 
Displaying an unapologetic attitude and a more liberated sound than ever before, “the one” has been co-produced by David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The xx, Let’s Eat Grandma) and Marika herself. “the one” shows why Marika is fast turning herself into one of the most exciting songwriters of her time. Layered synthesizers make this the album’s most unexpected musical turn, alongside Marika’s signature new wave guitar fretwork and Blondie style delivery, she’s never sounded as widescreen.

Marika Hackman Tour Dates

Having recently teased new music at the BBC 6 Music Festival, The Great Escape, All Points East, and Field Day, Marika is gearing up for an exciting year of touring. Tickets for headline tour dates available from marikahackman.com.
 
Aug.15 - Beacon Breacons, UK - Green Man Festival
Sep. 21 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
Sep. 23 - Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor
Sep. 24 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
Sep. 25 - Manchester, UK - Band On The Wall 
Sep. 26 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
Oct. 11 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
Oct. 12 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook
Oct. 13 - Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
Oct. 14 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle
Oct. 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere
Oct. 18 - Allston, MA - Great Scott
Oct. 19 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall
Oct. 20 - Montréal, QC - Bar Le ‘Ritz’ P.D.B.
Oct. 21 - Toronto, ON- The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Oct. 23 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
Oct. 24 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
Oct. 25 - Chicago, IL- Sleeping Village
Oct. 26 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room at Colectivo Coffee
Oct. 28 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry
Nov. 01 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
Nov. 04 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club
Nov. 06 - West Hollywood, CA - The Roxy Theatre

Any Human Friend

Any Human Friend was co-produced by David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The xx, Let’s Eat Grandma) and Marika herself, and shows off a sharper and more liberated sound than ever before. Now available for preorder from Sub Pop: LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America will receive the limited Loser edition on Salmon-colored vinyl (while supplies last). There will also be a new t-shirt design available.

Cover art photography by Joost Vandebrug, inspired by Rineke Dijkstra. Read more about it here.

Any Human Friend is out August 9th in North and South America from Sub Pop (and the rest of the world through AMF Records)

[Single Art Photography by Joost Vandebrug]

Marika Hackman is back with “the one,” the second single from her forthcoming album Any Human Friend, out August 9th via Sub Pop in North and South America and AMF Records for the rest of the world.
 
Displaying an unapologetic attitude and a more liberated sound than ever before, “the one” was co-produced by David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The xx, Let’s Eat Grandma) and Marika herself. Layered synthesizers make this the album’s most unexpected musical turn, alongside Marika’s signature new wave guitar fretwork and Blondie style delivery, she’s never sounded as widescreen.
 
The first song written for Any Human Friend, “the one” is “probably the poppiest song I’ve ever written” she says. “ I loved the idea of inhabiting this ridiculous arrogant rock star character who has totally fucked their career by writing too many sad songs.” To that end, it features a riot grrrl Greek chorus hurling such insults at her as “You’re such an attention whore!”
 
Marika is a ‘Rid of Me’-era PJ Harvey for the inclusive generation: unbounded by musical genre, a preternatural lyricist and tunesmith who isn’t afraid to go there. Hackman’s 2015 debut, We Slept at Last, was heralded for being nuanced and atmospheric. She really found her footing with her last release, I’m Not Your Man, and its exceptional, swaggering International hit “Boyfriend”, which boasts of seducing away a straight guy’s girlfriend.

Marika Hackman Tour Dates + Ticket Links

Marika Hackman’s fall international headlining tour in support of Any Human Friend begins September 21st in Bristol, UK at Thekla and ends November 6th in West Hollywood, CA at The Roxy Theatre. The fall shows are preceded by an appearance at the UK’s Green Man Festival.
 
Aug.15 - Beacon Breacons, UK - Green Man Festival
Sep. 21 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
Sep. 23 - Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor
Sep. 24 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
Sep. 25 - Manchester, UK - Band On The Wall
Sep. 26 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
Oct. 11 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
Oct. 12 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook
Oct. 13 - Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
Oct. 14 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle
Oct. 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere
Oct. 18 - Allston, MA - Great Scott
Oct. 19 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall
Oct. 20 - Montréal, QC - Bar Le ‘Ritz’ P.D.B.
Oct. 21 - Toronto, ON- The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Oct. 23 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
Oct. 24 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
Oct. 25 - Chicago, IL- Sleeping Village
Oct. 26 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room at Colectivo Coffee
Oct. 28 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry
Nov. 01 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
Nov. 04 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club
Nov. 06 - West Hollywood, CA - The Roxy Theatre

Announces North American tour dates for 2019.

Rock provocateur Marika Hackman will release her highly anticipated new album Any Human Friend on 9th August via Sub Pop in North and South America and AMF Records for the rest of the world. Marika also unveils her slap-in-the-face, Will Hooper-directed (IDLES, APRE) video for current single“i’m not where you are.”

The FADER had this to say of the video, “Hackman is preparing to release Any Human Friend, the follow up to I’m Not Your Man and, if its lead single “i’m not where you are” is anything to go by, a record just as brazen as its predecessor. “i’m not where you are” is one of Hackman’s most darkly-toned tracks yet: an ode to emotional unavailability delivered with Hackman’s typically smooth hypnotic, vocals. “I’ve been trying to find the point in human contact,” Hackman sings over crunchy guitars and bright synths, before shrugging the whole thing off entirely: “I get bored like that.” (see video premiere May 21st).”

Marika Hackman Tour Dates

Marika Hackman international tour schedule in support of Any Human Friend begins for 2019 spans September 21st in Bristol, UK at Thekla and ends November 6th in West Hollywood, CA at The Roxy Theatre. Preceding the headlining fall dates are two UK festival appearances: June 1st at London’s All Points East and August 15th at Green Man Festival.

Jun. 01 - London, UK - All Points East
Aug.15 - Beacon Breacons, UK - Green Man Festival
Sep. 21 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
Sep. 23  - Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor
Sep. 24 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
Sep. 25 - Manchester, UK - Band On The Wall 
Sep. 26 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
Oct. 11 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
Oct. 12 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook
Oct. 13 - Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
Oct. 14 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle
Oct. 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere
Oct. 18 - Allston, MA - Great Scott
Oct. 19 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall
Oct. 20 - Montréal, QC - Bar Le ‘Ritz’ P.D.B.
Oct. 21  - Toronto, ON - The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Oct. 23 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
Oct. 24 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
Oct. 25 - Chicago, IL - Sleeping Village
Oct. 26 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room at Colectivo Coffee
Oct. 28 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry
Nov. 01 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
Nov. 04 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club
Nov. 06 - West Hollywood, CA - The Roxy Theatre

Any Human Friend

Any Human Friend was co-produced by David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The xx, Let’s Eat Grandma) and Marika herself, and shows off a sharper and more liberated sound than ever before. Now available for preorder from Sub Pop: LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America will receive the limited Loser edition on Salmon-colored vinyl (while supplies last). There will also be a new t-shirt design available.

Cover art photography by Joost Vandebrug, inspired by Rineke Dijkstra (see “More on…” below).

Any Human Friend
Tracklisting:
 
1. wanderlust
2. the one
3. all night
4. blow
5. i’m not where you are
6. send my love
7. hand solo
8. conventional ride
9. come undone
10. hold on
11. any human friend

More on Marika Hackman’s Any Human Friend:
“hand solo,” “blow,” “conventional ride”—these are just a few of the cheeky offerings off Any Human Friend, the new album from rock provocateur Marika Hackman. “This whole record is me diving into myself and peeling back the skin further and further, exposing myself in quite a big way. It can be quite sexual,” Hackman says. “It’s blunt, but not offensive. It’s mischievous.” There’s also depth to her carnal knowledge: Any Human Friend (August 9th from Sub Pop Records in North and South America and AMF for the rest of the world) is ultimately about how, as she puts it, “We all have this lightness and darkness in us.” 

Hackman lifted the album’s title from a documentary about four-year-olds interacting with dementia patients in senior homes. At one point, two little girls confer about their experience there, with one musing on how it’s great to make “any human friend,” whether old or young. “When she said that it really touched a nerve in me,” says the London-based musician. “It’s that childlike view where we really accept people, are comfortable with their differences.” 

Such introspection has earned Hackman her name. Her folkie 2015 debut, We Slept at Last, was heralded for being nuanced and atmospheric. She really found her footing with her last release, I’m Not Your Man—which earned raves from The Guardian, Stereogum, and Pitchfork—and its sybaritic, swaggering hit “Boyfriend,” which boasts of seducing away a straight guy’s girlfriend. “Her tactile lyrics keep the songs melodically strong and full of surprises,” remarkedPitchfork. We’ll say! 

“I’m a hopeless romantic,” she explains. “I search for love and sexual experience, but also I’m terrified by it.” Hackman is a Rid of Me-era PJ Harvey for the inclusive generation: unbounded by musical genre, a preternatural lyricist and tunesmith who isn’t afraid to go there. (Even her cover art, which finds Hackman nearly nude while cradling a baby pig, is a nod to Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra’s unfiltered photos of mothers just after they gave birth.) To that end, “hand solo” extolls the virtues of masturbation and  features Hackman’s favorite line, “Under patriarchal law, I’m going to die a virgin.” The song “blow” paints a picture of social excess. And “conventional ride” thumbs its nose at heterosexual sex through “the trope a lot of gay women experience: sleeping with someone, then it becomes apparent you’re kind of an experiment.”

With Any Human Friend, boundaries are no longer an issue for her. “I sent ‘all night’ to my parents and they were quite shocked,” she says of the paean to the flesh, dressed as a sweetly harmonic track. “Why does it sound shocking coming out of my mouth? Women have sex with each other, and it seems to me we aren’t as freely allowed to discuss that as men are. But at no point am I disrespecting the women I’m having sex with. It can be fucking sexy without banging people over the head with a frying pan. It’s sexy sex.”

Sharing intimacies with her parents sorta makes sense when you consider she wrote “the one”—a portrait of the artist amid identity crisis—and several other songs in her bedroom at their house, where she crashed after a painful break-up with a longtime girlfriend. “‘send my love’ is a proper breakup song,” she says of the levitating, string-laden track. “I actually wrote that in a moment of grief. It’s a strange take on it because I’m imagining myself as my ex-girlfriend.” She penned its companion track, “i’m not where you are,” a melodic earworm about emotional detachment from relationships, roughly six months later.

“I think because my life was flipped upside down, it was taking me longer to write,” she says. “This was definitely the hardest process I’ve gone through to make a record.” She wrote the album over a year, recording a few songs at a time with co-producer David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The xx). “I stopped being able to sleep properly,” she says. “I was waking up in the middle of the night to write songs.”

But the longer recording process also meant that Hackman had the time to experiment in the studio, especially with electronic songs. She was inspired by Wrench’s vast synth collection, many of which she used throughout Any Human Friend (“the synths give the album a nice shine”), notably on “hold on,” a deep dive into ennui expressed as ethereal R&B. She also switched up drum rhythms and wrote songs on the bass, such as the upbeat, idiosyncratic “come undone” (working name: “Funky Little Thang”).

Hackman bookends Any Human Friend with some of her most unexpected musical turns. The first song she wrote, “the one” (technically its second track), is “probably the poppiest song I’ve ever written,” she says. “It’s about that weird feeling of starting the process again from scratch.” To that end, it features a riot grrrl Greek chorus hurling such insults at her as, “You’re such an attention whore!” The title track closes out the album and explores how, “when we’re interacting with people, it’s like holding a mirror up to yourself.” It’s a weightless coda that’s jazz-like in its layering of rhythmic sounds as if you’re leisurely sorting through Hackman’s headspace.

“The drive to do all this is all just about trying to work out what the fuck is in my brain,” she says, laughing. The dragon she’s chasing is a rarified peace that materializes after properly tortured herself. “I really did have a good time working on this album,” she says, reassuringly. “It’s just emotionally draining to write music and constantly tap into your psyche. No musician is writing music for themselves to listen to. It’s a dialogue, a conversation, a connection. I’m creating something for people to react to.”

Rock provocateur Marika Hackman returns with melodic earworm “i’m not where you are” which shows off a sharper and more liberated sound than ever before. The track was co-produced by Marika and David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The xx, Let’s Eat Grandma), and is available now digitally from Sub Pop (in North and South America) and AMF Records (for the rest of the world) 

Listen now on YouTube + Spotify + Apple Music.

[Single Cover Art Credit: Joost Vandebrug]

“i’m not where you are” “is about breaking up with people, or self-sabotaging relationships” Marika explains. “That feeling of not trusting one’s emotions because you can’t seem to get to the same place as the other person.  On the surface, it seems like an arrogant everybody falls in love with me” kind of song but its actually incredibly lonely, introspective and self-deprecating” 
 
“i’m not where you are” fits into a wider narrative, in which the process of writing was cathartic and - as the best songwriters do - she has strengthened her own voice through the process, exploring herself and emerging with a widescreen, heavy-hitting new sound.
 
Marika has deployed synthesizers that recall the off-kilter, oddball hits of OMD or New Order and places them at the heart of “i’m not where you are.” For all the urgency of the backing music, Marika’s natural delivery and sensuous tone offers a dreamlike quality to the proceedings and allows her to look within to find answers that make sense outside.
 
Hackman is a Rid of Me-era PJ Harvey for the inclusive generation: unbounded by musical genre, a preternatural lyricist and tunesmith who isn’t afraid to go there. Hackman’s 2015 debut, We Slept at Last, was heralded for being nuanced and atmospheric. She really found her footing with her last release, I’m Not Your Man—which earned raves from The Guardian, Stereogum, and Pitchfork—and its sybaritic, swaggering hit “Boyfriend,” which boasts of seducing away a straight guy’s girlfriend. Marika’s new sound sees her dive into herself, peeling back the skin further and further, exposing herself in a big way, creating something for people to react to.
 
Having recently teased new music at theBBC 6 Music festival, Marika is gearing up to an exciting year of touring. More news to come.

[Photo Credit: Joost Vandebrug]
 
What people have said about Marika Hackman:
“Her tactile lyrics keep the songs melodically strong and full of surprises…As a writer, Hackman may owe a bit to PJ Harvey, but I’m Not Your Man is the proper arrival of a bold young British force.” [I’m Not Your Man] - Pitchfork
 
“Hackman’s greatest weapon is her words, and she uses her dark wit to lure you in while conveying strong messages about her life and society.” [I’m Not Your Man] -  Stereogum
 
“A bolder, more upfront record than her first, no longer couching her sexuality in metaphors about nature…” [I’m Not Your Man] -  NPR Music
 
“Marika Hackman’s latest evolution is a triumph that finds equilibrium amid both wit and heart.” [I’m Not Your Man] -  All Music