Blonde Redhead — the trio of Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace — announce The Shadow of the Guest (section), out digitally on June 27th. The Shadow of the Guest is a dreamy, slightly uncanny reimagining of their critically acclaimed 2023 album Sit Down for Dinner. Enlisting the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, the album offers newly expanded versions of multiple songs, including today’s single, “Before (Choir Version),” a mariachi-inspired rendition of the Rick and Morty-featured internet hit “For The Damaged Coda,” and a series of ambient ASMR reworks. It is a surreal companion piece to Sit Down for Dinner exploring themes of innocence, nostalgia, and sonic curiosity.

“The album started as a soundtrack that I produced for my closest buddy Isabel Marant’s fashion show,” Kazu explains. “I often play her my early demos and things that I am making and I told her I want to make ASMR using parts and fragments of our songs. It was such a great musical exercise for me. She came with me to the studio in Paris, wrote phrases in French and we had a good laugh at my pronunciation. This is an important release for us. They are not just a rendition of the latest but a long time dream that finally came true.”

On working with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Kazu reflects: “Ability, professionalism and cuteness overload of the soulful Brooklyn Youth Chorus made me fall off the chair multiple times during the recordings. Even when they were exhausted, they were soooo good and sweet, with incredible work ethics. They inspire me to do better and I hope to sing with them one day live!” Speaking on today’s single, she says: “‘Before’ was written with a choir in mind. I wrote it for kids and the POV of children and I said so when I met them for the first time. I don’t know if they took it literally by the time we recorded, but they truly owned the song as if they wrote it. That’s pretty remarkable.”

Blonde Redhead Tour Dates
Fri. May 30 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway %
Sat. May 31 – New York, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium %
Mon. June 2 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem %
Wed. June 4 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met %
Fri. June 6 – Cincinnati, OH @ Woodward Theater
Sat. June 7 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre %
Sun. June 8 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed %
Mon. June 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory %
Wed. June 11 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre %
Thu. June 12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union %
Sat. June 14 – Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre %
Mon. June 16 – Portland, OR @ Theater of the Clouds %
Tue. June 17 – Woodinville, WA @ Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery %
Fri. June 27 – Angers, FR @ Levitation Festival
Sat. June 28 – Biarritz, FR @ Atabal
Mon. June 30 – Milan, IT @ Venue TBA
Tue. July 1 – Bologna, IT @ Bonsai Garden
Wed. July 2 – Zurich, CH @ Rote Fabrik
Fri. July 4 – Herouville St Clair, FR @ Festival Beauregard
Thu. July 17 – Dour, BE @ Dourfestival
Sat. July 19 – Herk-de-Stad, BE @ Rock Herk
Wed. Aug. 20 – Sat. Aug. 23 – Torremolinos, ES @ Canala Party Festival

% = w/ Bloc Party