Toothless Marika Hackman

watch Toothless (Ed of Bombay Bicycle Club) & Marika Hackman duet in new video

UK singer/songwriter Marika Hackman is having a busy year. She released her first album for Sub Pop, I’m Not Your Man, last month, the same day that alt-J released their new album Relaxer, which features a gorgeous duet with Marika on “Last Year.” She also sings on a duet, “Palm’s Backside,” by Toothless, the new project of Bombay Bicycle Club bassist Ed Nash.

“Palm’s Backside” originally appeared on Toothless’ debut album The Pace Of The Passing, released earlier this year, and Ed and Marika have since filmed a semi-acoustic video of themselves playing the song. You might think of Bombay Bicycle Club as upbeat pop-indie, and Toothless does some of that too, but this new video is more like the delicate folk music of BBC’s 2010 sophomore album Flaws (which featured John Martyn and Joanna Newsom covers). Ed’s voice has a similar quality to BBC frontman Jack Steadman (who just released his own solo album as Mr Jukes last week and who co-produced The Pace of the Passing), and he and Marika really sound lovely together. Ed tells us:

“Palm’s Backside” was my take on a breakup song but with a twist. Normally breakup songs are about being hard done by and wanting to get back with your ex or about how you didn’t need them in the first place. Palm’s is about realising that your old partner is better off without you and trying to move on as a result.

The song is a back and fourth between a guy and a girl looking back at their relationship. Marika Hackman was my first choice to sing the female parts as I have always loved her music and thought her voice was the perfect counterpoint to mine. Filming this session was the first time I had seen Marika since recording the song and filming the original video for it. She turned up on the day and learnt all the guitar parts in 5 mins!

The video premieres below. Check out a full stream of the album and upcoming Toothless tour dates (all in Europe) below as well.

Marika begins a North American tour later this month with The Big Moon, who backed her on her new album. They’ll also be backing her at these shows, and opening too. The tour includes a Brooklyn show on 8/16 at Baby’s All Right (tickets). All of her dates are listed below too.

Toothless — 2017 Tour Dates
Sat 22 Jul 2017 Secret Garden Party 2017 Huntingdon, UK
Fri 25 Aug 2017 Reading Festival 2017 Reading, UK
Sat 26 Aug 2017 Bramham Park Wetherby, UK
Sat 26 Aug 2017 Leeds Festival 2017 Leeds, UK
Tue 03 Oct 2017 Privatclub Berlin, Germany
Thu 05 Oct 2017 Patronaat Haarlem, Netherlands
Fri 06 Oct 2017 Ancienne Belgique – AB Club Brussels, Belgium
Sat 07 Oct 2017 Les Étoiles Paris, France
Mon 09 Oct 2017 The Fleece Bristol, UK
Tue 10 Oct 2017 Rescue Rooms Nottingham, UK
Thu 12 Oct 2017 KOKO London, UK
Fri 13 Oct 2017 Manchester Gorilla Manchester, UK
Sun 15 Oct 2017 G2 Glasgow, UK

Marika Hackman — 2017 Tour Dates
Jul. 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg*
Jul. 31 – Oakland, CA – Starline Social Club*
Aug. 02 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios*
Aug. 03 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret*
Aug. 04 – Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern*
Aug. 06 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court*
Aug. 07 Denver, CO – Lost Lake*
Aug. 09 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry*
Aug. 10 – Milwaukee, WI – Back Room at Collectivo*
Aug. 11 – Chicago, IL – Schubas*
Aug. 13 – Toronto, ON – The Drake*
Aug. 14 – Montreal, QC – Casa del Popolo*
Aug. 15 – Boston, MA – Great Scott*
Aug. 16 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right*

*w/ The Big Moon