Sunday night (5/17))we will be celebrating the release of our new @settingsounds album on @thrilljockey at @hawriverballroom in Saxapahaw, NC. It’s going to be a really special evening, and to top it all off, we have @waltmcclements joining us for an opening set.
Doors at 7. Music at 8.
And tonight (Saturday - 5/16) we’ll be performing at @ayurpranalisteningroom in Asheville - our home away from home. See ya soon!
Music video by the great @morganmaassen . Full video in the links section
🎵 @settingsounds return with their self-titled second studio album, out now on @thrilljockey . The North Carolina-based experimental trio — Nathan Bowles, Jaime Fennelly and Joe Westerlund — distil their blend of acoustic instrumentation, cassette loops and electronics to thrilling effect.
What’s most noticeable on a first listen is the groove — a detail less prevalent on Shone a Rainbow Light On and the live albums. Opener Heard a Bubble kicks off with Bowles playing a tight little banjo loop, before Fennelly’s programmed synths and electronics flesh out the refrain, and Westerlund’s percussion digs deeper into a groove that explores itself for over eight minutes, creating a trance-like listening experience. 🌀
Elsewhere, What Kind of Fish is a Turtle pulls things apart with a stark, minimalist soundscape of swirling electronics and sparse, metallic percussion — a meditative space that lulls the ear. Ribbon of Moss sits between the two, a looser, more improvised-sounding banjo part as a focal point for electronics and minimalist percussion to wrap around. ✨
Given real definition and personality by engineer Adam McDaniel, the intricate detailing and impeccable construction — along with a clear confidence across the five songs — make Setting the trio’s clearest expression yet. Without a doubt, the perfect title. 🎶
Read the full review on KLOF Mag - Link in Bio
Setting are on Tour Now
#Setting #ThrillJockey #ExperimentalMusic #NewMusic
Watch the new music video for Setting's “What Kind of Fish is a Turtle” from their new self-titled album (out now on Thrill Jockey). Directed by the award winning surfing filmmaker/photographer Morgan Maassen, the track and music video are rich and fluid, crashing together like waves in slow motion.
Setting said “Morgan Maassen’s immersive, buoyant video for “What Kind of Fish is a Turtle” seems so intertwined with the music’s pitch, yaw, and roll that you’d be forgiven for thinking that the two were created as a piece to complement and augment one another, but this specific collaboration came to fruition well after the music was recorded. The inky half-light and glassy shimmer of his footage seems to both birth the music and bloom from within it, a breathtaking effect that leaves the viewer/listener wondering which way is up. We are so, so chuffed to share this slice of kismet audio-visual symbiosis with y’all."
You can see the full music video on youtube via the link in our bio, where you can also see Setting's current tour dates and tickets.
Upcoming shows at:
@snugharbornc May 12
@flickertheatre May 13
@badearl May 14
@hawriverballroom May 15
@ayurpranalisteningroom May 16
@nelsonvillefest June 18-20
@theoutsideonwyso at @foundrytheaterantioch June 22
@trinosophes June 23
@tonepresents at @thejama____ June 24
@suoniperilpopolo June 25
@solidsoundfest at @massmoca June 27
@pickathon on July 30
“Setting” reviewed on @pitchfork this morning. Thank you Jesse Jarnow for connecting all the dots and expansive, insightful writing.
Southeast shows coming up next week! All dates on the settingsounds.com site!
Happy May Day Bandcamp Friday! Get on it!
New s/t album has been out in the world for a week and we are getting ready for the beginnings of touring which all starts in less than 2 weeks. Thanks to everyone who has gripped the vinyl/cd/dl. ✊
May 12 - Charlotte, NC - Snug Harbor
May 13 - Athens, GA @ Flicker Theater
May 14 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
May 16 - Asheville, NC - AyurPrana Listening Room
May 17 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom (Album Release show)
June 20 - Nelsonville, OH - Nelsonville Festival
June 22 - Yellow Springs, OH - Foundry Theater @ Antioch College - The Outside Presents
June 23 - Detroit, MI - Trinosophes
June 24 - Toronto, ON - TONE Toronto @ The Jama
June 25 - Montreal, QB - Suoni Per Il Popolo
June 26-28 - North Adams, MA - Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival @ MASS MoCA
July 30 - Aug 2 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon
Sept 3-6 - Chicago, IL - Sound & Gravity
(photo of @settingsounds by @annapowelldenton at @bigearsfestival )
𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝑺𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 is OUT today on Thrill Jockey Records! We began our journey with this material in January of 2025 at Drop of Sun Studios in Asheville, NC with the ever-imaginative and insightful Adam McDaniel at the mixing desk. Further shaping took place in the following few months, and our self-titled statement (appropriately named as it only features the three members of the trio) was complete. This project continues our collaboration with Josh Bonati (mastering) and Timothy Breen (artwork) from our studio debut. We are thrilled to have this released on Thrill Jockey! Available today everywhere!
See you out there…
May 12 - Charlotte, NC - Snug Harbor
May 13 - Athens, GA @ Flicker Theater
May 14 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
May 16 - Asheville, NC - AyurPrana Listening Room
May 17 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom (Album Release show)
June 20 - Nelsonville, OH - Nelsonville Festival
June 22 - Yellow Springs, OH - Foundry Theater @ Antioch College - The Outside Presents
June 23 - Detroit, MI - Trinosophes
June 24 - Toronto, ON - TONE Toronto @ The Jama
June 25 - Montreal, QB - Suoni Per Il Popolo
June 26-28 - North Adams, MA - Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival @ MASS MoCA
July 30 - Aug 2 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon
Sept 3-6 - Chicago, IL - Sound & Gravity
LIVE at LEONA’s
Tuesday, May 5
WESTERLUND // HAGEN
@joewesterlund // @t.r.e.v.r
*RESCHEDULED ALBUM RELEASE SHOW*
A duo ensemble born from a childhood friendship in the midwest, Joe Westerlund and Trever Hagen have merged their solo work on drums and trumpet into a distinct sound world of melodic, rhythmic and lush electroacoustic texture. The pair pays respect to this instrumentation’s historical context, while reaching further into sonic geographies with their shared voice. Their forthcoming debut release on Totally Gross National Product (@totallygrossnationalproduct ) consists of four compositions born and molded from sprawling improvisations during a winter tour in late 2024.
Also featuring:
DJ set by Drew Christopherson (@normalmannn )
&
live visuals by Jacob Swanson (@gleaming_the_void )
This will be a seated show staged with Joe & Trever on the floor playing in-the-round and chairs set up around them. As such limited spots available. Tickets on sale now via @volumeone .
7PM // $15 adv // $20 dos
We're still buzzing off @bigearsfestival ! Did you catch any of @joewesterlund 's epic sets?
It was a blast going deep with Joe about everything from Megafaun to Milford Graves to the music of the Ituri Rainforest.
Full conversation at the @nycradiolive podcast - link in bio.
Photo by Jenn Roach
@psychichotline
Big Ears was cooking! Thanks for having us and for everyone who crammed themselves into Jig & Reel for two sets last Saturday night.
Announcements….
We have an in-person listening party on the horizon for the new s/t album on @thrilljockey - out on April 24!
Thurs, 4/23, 6-8pm - @alldayrecords
Carrboro, NC
We’ll be enjoying some bevs and snacks and listening through the album together, and of course the record in tow.
…and for the digitally inclined….
Fri, 4/17, 2-3pm - @bandcamp
Bandcamp Listening Party
bring your witty remarks and emojis, or just listen without potchking with your ⌨️
@settingsounds at Big Ears, Knoxville, TN - 2026
photos by @travisgillett
Another great conversation with a musician who is all over Big Ears.
We chat with Joe Westerlund about his life changing experiences with Milford Graves, his early work with Megafaun, and the inspiration of the music of the ituri Rainforest on all of his work.
Make sure to check out his latest albums Curiosities from the Shft on Psychic Hotline.
Grotto a trumpet/drums duo with Trever Hagen on Totally Gross National Product and Setting S/T a trio with Jaime Fennelly and Nathan Bowles, to be released on Thrill Jockey on April 24th.
@joewesterlund@psychichotline@totallygrossnationalproduct@thrilljockey@bigearsfestival
