After a nearly five-year-long hiatus, The Black Keys are back, and they came with a surprise. New music.
On Thursday morning, the band released a brand new single entitled Lo/Hi. It’s The Black Keys’ first original material since the release of their 2014 chart-topping album, Turn Blue. That’s right, March 2019 marks the end of the garage rock duo’s indefinite hiatus.
Their 2010 album, Brothers, essentially put The Black Keys on the map in North America, so the release of another successful album, El Camino (2011) called for an intense touring schedule — one that carried on for four years.
Frontman Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney decided to take a break from each other in 2015 to dabble in producing and focus on their own musical projects altogether. The Lonely Boy rockers’ breakup was continuously rumoured, however, never confirmed.
As revealed by Carney, 38, on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the since-confirmed hiatus was decided after the pair grew tired of their heavy touring schedule.
READ MORE: Side Door, a so-called ‘Tinder for musicians,’ officially launches in North America
For those familiar with The Black Keys, Lo/Hi comes as a return to its classic rock and blues roots embellished with that signature psychedelic sound.
The three-minute-long was recorded in Auerbach’s own Easy Eye Sound studio, which is located in Nashville, Tenn.
Over the last half-decade, the Ohio-born rockers have worked on a number of separate projects. Auerbach started a brand new band under the moniker The Arcs in 2015. He also released his second solo album, Waiting on a Song, in 2017.
Get breaking National news
Carney managed to produce three individual albums in that time, starting with Tobias Jesso Jr.’s Goon (2015), Karen Elson’s Double Roses (2017) and Michelle Branch’s Hopeless Romantic in 2017.
Branch and Carney began a romantic relationship throughout the recording process and were subsequently engaged that year. They had a child together in 2018.
Carney is also known for composing the theme song for Netflix’s hugely popular animated series, BoJack Horseman. He composed the theme with his late uncle, Ralph Carney — who was known for his work as a saxophonist with Tom Waits.
READ MORE: Smashing Pumpkins, Noel Gallagher announce North American tour, 1 Canadian date
Co-written and produced by the duo, Lo/Hi is seemingly reminding many longtime fans across the world why they fell in love with The Black Keys in the first place.
https://twitter.com/conceptnub/status/1103699788502130688
https://twitter.com/GSPTcal/status/1103646149393686528
https://twitter.com/gianniboyx29/status/1103700015946465280
https://twitter.com/mason_lloyd1/status/1103445713973886976
https://twitter.com/jackgraber/status/1103702582709682176
https://twitter.com/seane23/status/1103695844677693440
As of this writing, neither Auerbach, 39, nor Carney, have commented on The Black Keys’ sudden return.
It’s expected that the band are currently working on the long-awaited follow-up to Turn Blue.
READ MORE: Hollerado announces final album ‘Retaliation Vacation’
Currently, The Black Keys have absolutely no scheduled tour dates, let alone Canadian ones.
Lo/Hi is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Comments