Tanlines

The Brooklyn-based pair Tanlines weaves intricate sonic layers by fusing progressive electronic explorations with rhythmic, island-infused pop. Their first album, Mixed Emotions, climbed to number eight on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Albums chart in 2012. Subsequent releases refined this approach, evident in the energetic, dancefloor-oriented Highlights from 2015 and the more restrained The Big Mess that surfaced in 2023.

Tanlines originated in 2008 when vocalist/guitarist Eric Emm (Don Caballero, Storm & Stress, Brothers) and percussionist Jesse Cohen (Professor Murder) launched a remix endeavor that invited collaborators to add vocals to their tracks. The project soon matured into a performing unit, with Emm assuming lead duties and handling most vocals on the debut EP Settings, issued in March 2010 via True Panther.

Upon completing a European tour in support of that release, the duo discovered their rehearsal space had been sold, infusing the recording of their debut full-length with a sense of loss that mirrored the group's own transition. Mixed Emotions, helmed by mixer Jimmy Douglass (Timbaland, Roxy Music, Aaliyah), emerged in early 2012 on True Panther and peaked at number two on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart alongside its number-eight placement on the Dance/Electronic Albums tally.

The follow-up album Highlights appeared in 2015, underscoring their buoyant, club-centric strain of indie pop. In the ensuing period Emm relocated to Connecticut with his family, while Cohen remained in New York, pursuing marketing work and starting a podcast. Although Emm continued composing, eight years passed before the pair reconvened in the studio. Their third LP, The Big Mess, arrived in 2023; co-produced with Patrick Ford and mixed by Peter Katis, it revealed a darker, more reflective palette than earlier material.