Kero Kero Bonito Sign to Polyvinyl, Share New Single “Make Believe”

Bilingual electro-pop mavens Kero Kero Bonito have shared the video for “Make Believe,” the second single from their forthcoming album Time n’ Place, out “v soon” through Polyvinyl Records, according to the band.

“Make Believe” is a return to form for the trio after a year full of change. Their surprise February EP TOTEP was a decided departure from the videogame-inspired electronics of their previous releases, featuring indie-rock-adjacent guitars and darker songwriting, with less Japanese rapping from lead singer Sarah Perry. They’ve also left their previous label, Double Denim, to sign with Polyvinyl.

“Make Believe” combines the effervescence of the band’s earlier work with the mysterious swirl they infused into TOTEP. It’s a fun song, no doubt, but a bit more shrouded. Perry’s voice is floating somewhere in the middleground, where it used to be snug up against your ear. It’s bombastic, yet still bouncy.

The band will also be embarking on a world tour, as previously announced in their previously teased single “World Tour 2018,” the digital exclusive b-side to “Make Believe.” Kero Kero Bonito’s tour dates can be found further down.

Watch the “Make Believe” video (dir. James Hankins) below.

Kero Kero Bonito Tour Dates:

October
02 – Brighton, U.K. @ Patterns
03 – Bristol, U.K. @ Rough Trade [SOLD OUT]
04 – Manchester, U.K. @ YES [SOLD OUT]
05 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Broadcast [SOLD OUT]
06 – Dublin, Ireland @ Whelan’s
16 – Boston, Mass. @ Brighton Music Hall $ [SOLD OUT]
17 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Elsewhere $ [SOLD OUT]
18 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ PhilaMOCA $ [SOLD OUT]
19 – Hoboken, N.J. @ Stevens Institute of Technology
20 – College Park, Md. @ MilkBoy ArtHouse $ [SOLD OUT]
23 – Atlanta, Ga. @ 529 Club $ [SOLD OUT]
24 – New Orleans, La. @ Hi-Ho Lounge $
25 – Houston, Texas @ Satellite Bar $
26 – Austin, Texas @ Barracuda $
27 – San Antonio, Texas @ Paper Tiger $
28 – Dallas, Texas @ Deep Ellum Art Company $
30 – Norman, Okla. @ The Opolis $
31 – Santa Fe, N.M. @ Meow Wolf $

November
01 – Tucson, Ariz. @ 191 Toole $
02 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Regent Theater #$ [SOLD OUT]
03 – Long Beach, Calif. @ Tropicalia Fest
04 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Regent Theater #$
05 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore #
08 – Portland, Ore. @ Wonder Ballroom #$
09 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Biltmore Cabaret #$
10 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neptune Theatre #$
13 – Grinnell, Iowa @ Grinnell College – Gardner Lounge $
14 – Chicago, Ill. @ Thalia Hall $
15 – Detroit, Mich. @ Deluxx Fluxx $
16 – Toronto, Ont. @ Lee’s Palace $ [SOLD OUT]
17 – Montreal, Que. @ La Sala Rossa $
18 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Market Hotel
22 – Paris, France @ L’Olympic Café
23 – Brussels, Belgium @ Beursschouwburg
24 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Sugarfactory
26 – Hamburg, Germany @ Uebel & Gefährlich
27 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Ideal Bar
28 – Berlin, Germany @ The Monarch
29 – Warsaw, Poland @ Smolna

February
07 – Manchester, England @ Gorilla
08 – Bristol, England @ Thekla
09 – Glasgow, Scotland @ SWG3

($ w/ Tanukichan)
(# w/ Frankie Cosmos)