Biography
Multi-talented musician Kody Nielson charted a winding course across confrontational art-punk, neo-psychedelia, and electronic pop. The New Zealand native first drew notice in the noisy garage-punk outfit the Mint Chicks, which he launched alongside brother Ruban during 2001. Following several well-regarded releases, the band dissolved in 2010, prompting Nielson to launch the pop-leaning Opossom, whose opening full-length Electric Hawaii surfaced two years later. While contributing to his sibling’s acclaimed Unknown Mortal Orchestra, he also launched the downtempo electronic endeavor Silicon and issued its Personal Computer in 2015. His initial solo outing under his own name arrived as 2018’s Birthday Suite, a jubilant instrumental collection modeled on vintage Moog pop LPs of the 1960s and offered as a dedication to his relatives.
Nielson helped establish the arty, angular punk group the Mint Chicks in 2001 while still in his teens. Fronting the band, he earned recognition for uninhibited live antics that included scaling speakers, dangling from lighting structures, and directing aggression toward himself. The act joined storied New Zealand indie imprint Flying Nun and unveiled its first album, Octagon, Octagon, Octagon, in 2003. Subsequent efforts sharpened the sound, among them 2005’s F**k the Golden Youth and 2006’s Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!, and the group supported bills featuring Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the White Stripes, TV on the Radio, and additional acts. After moving to Portland, Oregon in 2007, the Mint Chicks delivered their concluding LP Screens in 2009 before staging their final, demolition-minded performance in March 2010.
Once resettled in New Zealand, Nielson stayed active on personal projects, joined forces with partner and pop superstar Bic Runga, and supplied drums for his brother’s neo-psychedelic indie-rock ensemble Unknown Mortal Orchestra. In 2012 he introduced the psych-pop vehicle Opossom via the Fire Records long-player Electric Hawaii; although Nielson handled all recording, live duties incorporated Runga alongside ex–Mint Chicks bassist Michael Logie. The next year he issued Devils, a solo EP released under his own name. Saxophone and trumpet contributions came from father Chris Nielson, resulting in an arresting instrumental set that merged jazz, Afrobeat, and deep funk.
Nielson balanced commitments to UMO and family with mixing duties for New Zealand acts such as Sherpa and Clap Clap Riot. Far more withdrawn than during Mint Chicks years, he began crafting sleek, polished synth-funk material that mirrored isolation and detachment. Personal Computer, his debut under the Silicon alias, appeared on Domino subsidiary Weird World in 2015.
Although Silicon garnered favorable response, Nielson returned to the instrumental vein first explored on the 2013 EP Devils. Fashioning ornate Baroque pop informed by pioneering electronic figures Wendy Carlos and Tomita, he assembled Birthday Suite, a twelve-track collection whose pieces each bear the name of a family member. Flying Nun brought the album out in 2018.
Nielson helped establish the arty, angular punk group the Mint Chicks in 2001 while still in his teens. Fronting the band, he earned recognition for uninhibited live antics that included scaling speakers, dangling from lighting structures, and directing aggression toward himself. The act joined storied New Zealand indie imprint Flying Nun and unveiled its first album, Octagon, Octagon, Octagon, in 2003. Subsequent efforts sharpened the sound, among them 2005’s F**k the Golden Youth and 2006’s Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!, and the group supported bills featuring Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the White Stripes, TV on the Radio, and additional acts. After moving to Portland, Oregon in 2007, the Mint Chicks delivered their concluding LP Screens in 2009 before staging their final, demolition-minded performance in March 2010.
Once resettled in New Zealand, Nielson stayed active on personal projects, joined forces with partner and pop superstar Bic Runga, and supplied drums for his brother’s neo-psychedelic indie-rock ensemble Unknown Mortal Orchestra. In 2012 he introduced the psych-pop vehicle Opossom via the Fire Records long-player Electric Hawaii; although Nielson handled all recording, live duties incorporated Runga alongside ex–Mint Chicks bassist Michael Logie. The next year he issued Devils, a solo EP released under his own name. Saxophone and trumpet contributions came from father Chris Nielson, resulting in an arresting instrumental set that merged jazz, Afrobeat, and deep funk.
Nielson balanced commitments to UMO and family with mixing duties for New Zealand acts such as Sherpa and Clap Clap Riot. Far more withdrawn than during Mint Chicks years, he began crafting sleek, polished synth-funk material that mirrored isolation and detachment. Personal Computer, his debut under the Silicon alias, appeared on Domino subsidiary Weird World in 2015.
Although Silicon garnered favorable response, Nielson returned to the instrumental vein first explored on the 2013 EP Devils. Fashioning ornate Baroque pop informed by pioneering electronic figures Wendy Carlos and Tomita, he assembled Birthday Suite, a twelve-track collection whose pieces each bear the name of a family member. Flying Nun brought the album out in 2018.
Albums
Singles
