Los Angeles-based project MOTO SOLO returns with a compelling new single, “History Crept On Me,” continuing its evolution into richly layered, synth-forward territory. The track was co-produced by Michael Shuman of Queens of the Stone Age, who brings an added depth to the release, further highlighting MOTO SOLO’s cinematic sound and dark melodic leanings.

The song’s emotional complexity is matched by its origin. Frontman and multi-instrumentalist Bobby Tamkin shares, “Lyrically, History Crept on Me speaks to the quiet chaos within—a moment when you’re lost or unraveling, and someone from your past returns, just when you need them most. You’re happily surprised and relieved when they appear. After creating the music video, I realized another meaning: that we sometimes slip into our deepest fears, not realizing that all we ever needed was the presence of a friend to help snap us out.”

Tamkin’s creative history spans decades and genres. Before launching MOTO SOLO, he cut his teeth in the experimental underground, most notably as a member of Hovercraft—a band formed during Seattle’s grunge explosion that found itself opening for Foo Fighters and playing with The Melvins. As a young drummer, Tamkin absorbed the raw energy of the era, often finding himself in living room jams with members of Soundgarden and Mudhoney.

Back in Los Angeles, Tamkin became a fixture in the psych-rock circuit, drumming for acts like The Warlocks and crossing paths with players from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beck’s touring crew. After years behind the kit, he took a step into songwriting and production, teaching himself piano and crafting what would become the sound of his former group Xu Xu Fang. That project garnered acclaim for its expansive, moody textures—earning premieres from Rolling Stone, nods from MOJO and The AV Club, and syncs in high-profile shows such as Gossip Girl and Bates Motel.

With MOTO SOLO, Tamkin fully claims center stage. “Xu Xu Fang was my band, but I never sang anything,” he says. “I’d write the music and lyrics, then hand the lyrics over to somebody else to sing. It was fun, but there was a disconnect. Felt like it was time to emerge from the curtain. It was the only musical challenge left.”

That leap began in earnest around 2023, when Tamkin began crafting songs with himself in mind as vocalist. He invited Shuman to contribute, initially just on bass, but their collaboration deepened—guitars, synths, arrangements, and co-production followed. With sessions later moving to 64 Sound in Highland Park and mixing helmed by GRAMMY winner Michael Harris, the sound of the project crystalized into something sonically rich and emotionally precise.

“History Crept On Me” follows recent singles like the Depeche Mode-inspired “There’s Another Way” and its Gui Boratto remix, along with the swirling “Celebration Sound.” While still anchored by driving synth lines and Tamkin’s resonant baritone, this new single adds a reflective and intimate tone that hints at what’s to come on the full-length album.

MOTO SOLO continues to push boundaries by blending post-punk atmospherics, synth-pop flair, and the depth of lived experience into something distinct—and “History Crept On Me” might be its most personal chapter yet.

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