What did Tunde Adebimpe say about TV On The Radio? Vocalist recalls being "psyched" to do music

Musician and TV On The Radio vocalist Tunde Adebimpe reflected on his aspirations for the band. Speaking to NME recently, he said he would love to make more music together.

After taking a break and spending time apart, he realized how much he valued creating music with the people he cared about. The band’s recent performances in 2024 had felt incredible and reminded him how special it was to come together. Tunde Adebimpe said:

“I would love for us to record more, and I’m sure that we will. It’s been fun messing around at soundchecks and stuff. I’m psyched to be doing all this music. I’ve got a record coming out, which is amazing, meanwhile there’s a gameshow host in the White House and people in America are getting snapped off the streets for saying ‘Free Palestine.’”

On April 18, 2025, he released his debut album, Thee Black Boltz. When asked about the vibe of the album, Tunde Adebimpe explained that it reminded him of the feeling he used to get from mixtapes shared between friends in high school.

After TV On The Radio took a break, he felt drained and started thinking back to 1993, a time when the music he discovered helped shape his identity and led him to New York. He recalled a tape a friend gave him with bands like Minor Threat and The Sugarcubes.

Those, including other mixes, felt like personal gifts, and he believed that same sense of thoughtful exchange and discovery came through in the new record.

Tunde Adebimpe’s album is dedicated to his sister

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Tunde Adebimpe explained that several labels turned down the album, likely because it was during the early pandemic. He also believed that his age played a role.

Nevertheless, he felt excited to join Sub Pop, a label that had once inspired him to believe he could make music. By the time he turned 50, he felt more confident and self-assured, joking that maybe he was just an older version of a pop star with charm. His debut album is dedicated to his sister, who died due to a heart attack. Speaking about losing his sibling and parents, he said:

“It’s dedicated to my younger sister, but also my dad and older brother. My dad passed away in 2005 before ‘Return To Cookie Mountain’ came out. Then, in 2008, my brother died very suddenly as we were making ‘Dear Science’. I went on tour after that, then our bassist, Gerard, passed away in 2011.”

Tunde Adebimpe shared that after going back on tour, he finally had time during the band’s break to reflect on everything that had happened. It felt like life had been hitting him hard, with one difficult event after another, including losing people close to him.

Meanwhile, Tunde Adebimpe said the band wasn’t working on a new album at the moment, but getting back together for shows felt exciting and natural. He felt confident in their ability to perform and enjoy the process again and mentioned they might figure out their next steps during the tour.

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