tUnE-yArDs “Hatari”

Merrill Garbus, the one woman force behind tUnE-yArDs , recorded her debut album Bird-Brains at essentially zero cost to herself: using a laptop with free software and voice recorder that were both gifts. Why take such a DIY approach, you ask? In a recent feature in Venus Zine, Garbus reasoned that “the sense that [she] had complete power and ownership over the whole thing, no matter where it went, no matter who listened, was really important to [her].” That independent spirit echoes throughout every track of Bird-Brains found-sound folktronica, particularly in the single “Hatari.” The song starts out with some African chant style wailing that quickly gives way to some really catchy ukulele and drum beats. While big and dirty, the beats retain a time signature conventional enough to keep the song grounded. Your feet on the other hand, may not stay grounded as the song’s rhythm is nearly irresistible.