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Small Black Share New Song “Driftwood Fire”

Cheap Dreams Due Out April 9 via 100% Electronica

Mar 24, 2021

New York City chillwave four-piece Small Black are releasing a new album, Cheap Dreams, on April 9 via 100% Electronica. Now they have shared another song from it, “Driftwood Fire.” The song is inspired by frontman Josh Kolenik’s uncle, a passionate surfer who died of a stroke on the beach in 2015 and was the inspiration for much of the new album. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Japanese Breakfast, St. Vincent, Xiu Xiu, Ratboys, and More

Plus Silk Sonic, Mdou Moctar, James, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Mar 05, 2021

Welcome to the eighth Songs of the Week of 2021. It was a fairly quiet week on the news front, with President Joe Biden’s pandemic stimulus bill getting closer to passing in the Senate, but without a minimum wage hike. More

Small Black Share Video for New Song “The Bridge”

Cheap Dreams Due Out April 9 via 100% Electronica

Mar 03, 2021

New York City chillwave four-piece Small Black are releasing a new album, Cheap Dreams, on April 9 via 100% Electronica. Now they have shared another song from it, “The Bridge,” via a video for the song. More

Small Black Announce New Album, Share Video for New Single “Duplex”

Cheap Dreams Will Be Out April 9 on 100% Electronica

Jan 19, 2021

Small Black have announced a new album, Cheap Dreams, and shared a stop-motion video for their new single “Duplex.” Cheap Dreams will be out on April 9 via 100% Electronica. The album, which the band describes as a “Long Island gothic surf epic,” will be their first in five years. More

Watch: Small Black - “Between Leos” Video

Best Blues Out Now via Jagjaguwar

Apr 05, 2017

Small Black released their latest album, Best Blues, back in 2015via Jagjaguwar. Now the band has shared a video for Best Blues track “Between Leos.” Directed by Jeremy S. Collins, it features two Foley artists as they do the sound effects for a film. More

Wild Nothing and Small Black Announce Joint Fall Tour

Wild Nothing's Life of Pause Out Now via Captured Tracks; Small Black's Best Blues Out Now via Jagjaguwar

Sep 20, 2016

Wild Nothing (aka Jack Tatum) released a somewhat underrated new album, Life of Pause, back in February via Captured Tracks (and Bella Union in the U.K.). Now the band has announced a fresh range of fall tour dates, many being dates on a joint tour with Small Black, who also released an underappreciated album earlier this year, Best Blues. More

Jan 22, 2016

Small Black released their latest album, Best Blues, back in October via Jagjaguwar. Now the band has shared a Wild Nothing (aka Jack Tatum) remix of one of Best Blues’ standout tracks, “Boys Life.” Small Black have also announced some new tour dates. The remix and tour dates are below. And of course Wild Nothing is releasing his new album, Life of Pause, on February 19 via Captured Tracks (and Bella Union in the U.K.).

Watch: Small Black - “No One Wants It to Happen to You” Video

Best Blues Due Out Tomorrow via Jagjaguwar

Oct 15, 2015

Small Black are releasing their new album, Best Blues, tomorrow (Friday, October 16) via Jagjaguwar. Previously the band has shared the Best Blues songs “Boys Life,” “No One Wants It to Happen to You,” and “Back At Belle’s.” Now they’ve shared a video for “No One Wants It to Happen to You.” More

Stream the New Album by Small Black, “Best Blues,” in Full

Best Blues Due Out October 16 via Jagjaguwar

Oct 08, 2015

Small Black are releasing their new album, Best Blues, next Friday (October 16) via Jagjaguwar. Previously the band has shared the Best Blues songs “Boys Life,” “No One Wants It to Happen to You,” and “Back At Belle’s.” Now you can stream the whole album below, viaNPR First Listen. More

Watch: Small Black - “Boys Life” Video

Best Blues Due Out October 16 via Jagjaguwar

Sep 22, 2015

Small Black are releasing their new album, Best Blues, which is due out October 16 via Jagjaguwar. Previously the band has shared the Best Blues songs “Boys Life,” “No One Wants It to Happen to You,” and “Back At Belle’s.” Now “Boys Life” has a video, except it’s really about a girl’s life. More

Listen: Small Black - “Back At Belle’s”

Best Blues Due Out October 16 via Jagjaguwar

Sep 09, 2015

Small Black are releasing their new album, Best Blues, which is due out October 16 via Jagjaguwar. Previously the band has shared the Best Blues songs “Boys Life” and “No One Wants It to Happen to You.” Now there’s another new song from it, “Back At Belle’s.” More

Listen: Small Black - “No One Wants It to Happen to You”

Best Blues Due Out October 16 via Jagjaguwar

Aug 25, 2015

Small Black recently announced a new album, Best Blues, and shared the first single from it, “Boys Life.” Now they have shared another new song from it, “No One Wants It to Happen to You.” Check it out below. More

Small Black Announce New Album, Share New Song, “Boys Life”

Best Blues Due Out October 16 via Jagjaguwar

Jul 30, 2015

Small Black have announced a new album, Best Blues, and shared the first single from it, “Boys Life.” Best Blues is due out October 16 via Jagjaguwar, is the band’s third full-length, and is the follow-up to 2013’s underrated Limits of Desire full-length and 2014’s Real People EP. More

Apr 11, 2014

Small Black and Snowmine both hail from Brooklyn and are clearly drinking the same water. More

Apr 04, 2014

Minutes before Small Black‘s energetic and dance-fueled set at one of Under the Radar‘s SXSW 2014 parties last month, they were lamenting the somber feeling that hovered in the atmosphere, amid the cool spring breeze and food truck smells. More

Mar 24, 2014

Small Black’s video for “Real People,” their collaborative single with Frankie Rose, is the spiritual ancestor of a slew of 1980s films. More

Under the Radar’s Three SXSW Day Parties to Feature Charli XCX, EMA, Future Islands, and Many More

Lineups Also Includes We Were Promised Jetpacks, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan, Connan Mockasin, Arthur Beatrice, Gruff Rhys, The Mary Onettes, Small Black, Thumpers, Woman's Hour, and Others

Feb 28, 2014

Under the Radar magazine is excited to reveal the full lineups, poster, and set times for our three SXSW 2014 day parties, taking place on Wednesday, March 12, Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14. Lineups include Charli XCX, EMA, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Future Islands, Connan Mockasin, We Were Promised Jetpacks, The Mary Onettes, Small Black, Thumpers, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Arthur Beatrice, Gruff Rhys, Woman’s Hour, and many others. More

Feb 18, 2014

Following last’s full-length Limits of Desire, New York four-piece Small Black have announced the release of a brand new 12’’ EP titled Real People. More

Under the Radar’s Top 50 Music Videos of 2013

Our Favorite Visuals of the Year

Jan 03, 2014

While the days of watching music videos on television are long gone, over the past several years the visual art form has certainly found second life (like so many other things) as an excellent online commodity. More

Halloween 2013 Questionnaire: Small Black

"I dressed up as Garfield in sixth grade and I was definitely too old for it and got ridiculed all day at school." - Josh Kolenik

Oct 31, 2013

We sent out the same set of Halloween-related questions to a bunch of different musicians. All Halloween week we are posting their responses. Here are some spooky answers from Josh Kolenik of Small Black. More

Small Black Announces Tour Dates

Remixes Frankie Rose

Oct 17, 2013

Small Black is headed out into the world, carrying with them one simple message: we have a new album out (and it’s a good one). More

Sep 25, 2013

New York synth quartet Small Black have premiered a new music video for “Breathless,” taken off the band’s latest LP Limits of Desire. More

Jul 09, 2013

Fresh off the release of their new album Limits of Desire New York synth pop foursome Small Black have premiered a new video for their track “Breathless.” More

Undercover: Small Black

Josh Hayden Kolenik on the cover of Limits of Desire

Jun 21, 2013

Undercover is our new recurring series where we talk to bands about the genesis of one of their album covers. Here we talk to Small Black’s Josh Hayden Kolenik about the cover of Limits of Desire. More

Jun 19, 2013

On the heels of releasing their new album Limits of Desire synth-pop ensemble Small Black have premiered a music video for their latest single “No Stranger.” More

May 06, 2013

After promoting their new album Limits of Desire with a music video, an upcoming art exhibition in New York and their their very own inspired beer, synth-pop group Small Black have finally come forward to share the record itself with a full stream online. More

Listen: Small Black - “No Stranger”

New AlbumLimits of Desire Out May 14

May 01, 2013

Limits of Desire, the newest album from Brooklyn synth-pop ensemble Small Black, will soon see releaes on May 14 via Jagjaguwar. More

Apr 24, 2013

Brooklyn quartet Small Black have announced that they will host a new art exhibition titled Limits of Desire. More

Watch: Small Black – “Free at Dawn” (Mildly NSFW)

Limits of Desire Out May 14 via Jagjaguwar

Apr 15, 2013

On May 14 Small Black will release their sophomore album Limits of Desire via Jagjaguwar. More

Greetings From Small Black at Under the Radar’s SXSW 2013 Parties

Checking in From Flamingo Cantina in Austin, Texas

Mar 21, 2013

Small Black checked in from day 3 of the Under the Radar SXSW parties in Austin, Texas. More

Small Black – Under the Radar’s SXSW Party Spotlight

Set to Headline Under the Radar's Third SXSW 2013 Party, Friday, March 15 at Flamingo Cantina

Mar 12, 2013

On March 15 Under the Radar will host the third of three free SXSW day parties. Leading up to the event we’re letting you know about each artist playing. Today we’re spotlighting headliner Small Black. More

Under the Radar Announces Three SXSW Day Parties Featuring Surfer Blood, DIIV, Small Black, and more

Also Performing: Shout Out Louds, Foxygen, Marnie Stern, Doldrums, Caveman, Young Galaxy, Girls Names, IO Echo, Mister Lies, Young Dreams, and more

Mar 06, 2013

Under the Radar magazine is excited to reveal the full lineups, poster, and set times for its three SXSW 2013 day parties, taking place on Wednesday March 13, Thursday March 14, and Friday March 15. Featured performers include Surfer Blood, DIIV, Small Black, Shout Out Louds, Foxygen, Poolside, Young Galaxy, Marnie Stern, Doldrums, Caveman, Girls Names, IO Echo, Mister Lies, Young Dreams, and more. More

Feb 28, 2013

On May 14, Small Black will release their second full-length, Limits of Desire, via Jagjaguwar. More

Listen: Small Back Mixtape “Moon Killer”

New Music From the Band in 2012

Nov 11, 2011

While Small Black’s next proper album won’t land until next year, today the Brooklyn-based dream pop band released a mix tape, highlighting their influences. More

Oct 26, 2011

Check out photos from Day Five of CMJ 2011 in New York, NY including photos of Atlas Sound, Purity Ring, Small Black, We Barbarians, Gauntlet Hair and Electric Guest. Photographer Wendy Lynch Redfern was there to capture the action. See the full gallery here. More

Watch: Small Black “Photo Journalist”

Lonely Girl, Bright Colors

Feb 04, 2011

Small Black released a video today for dreamy New Chain cut, “Photo Journalist.” We have the video. More

Small Black Performs in an Abandoned NYC Building

Band Plays “Camouflage” and “Light Curse”

Nov 12, 2010

Chillwave/dream-pop band Small Black recently took to an abandoned building near New York’s City Hall Park to film a Gothamist session. We have the video. More



Interviews

2015 Artist Survey: Small Black

Josh Kolenik on Justin Bieber, Indie vs. Mainstream Pop, Bernie Sanders, and Childhood Memories

Feb 09, 2016

For Under the Radar’s 13th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2015. We asked them about their favorite albums of the year and their thoughts on various notable 2015 news stories involving either the music industry or world events, as well as some quirkier personal questions. Here are some answers from Josh Kolenik of Small Black. Small Black’s latest album, Best Blues, was released last fall by Jagjaguwar. A shorter version of this interview ran in the Best of 2015 print issue, which is still on newsstands now. More

Apr 04, 2014

Minutes before Small Black‘s energetic and dance-fueled set at one of Under the Radar‘s SXSW 2014 parties last month, they were lamenting the somber feeling that hovered in the atmosphere, amid the cool spring breeze and food truck smells. More

Halloween 2013 Questionnaire: Small Black

"I dressed up as Garfield in sixth grade and I was definitely too old for it and got ridiculed all day at school." - Josh Kolenik

Oct 31, 2013

We sent out the same set of Halloween-related questions to a bunch of different musicians. All Halloween week we are posting their responses. Here are some spooky answers from Josh Kolenik of Small Black. More

Small Black

Craving Connections

Sep 25, 2013

To kick off work on their second full-length, Limits of Desire, Brooklyn-based quartet Small Black (Ryan Heyner, Josh Hayden Kolenik, Juan Pieczanski, and Jeff Curtin) skipped town to isolate themselves from big-city distractions and temporarily took up residence in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. More

Undercover: Small Black

Josh Hayden Kolenik on the cover of Limits of Desire

Jun 21, 2013

Undercover is our new recurring series where we talk to bands about the genesis of one of their album covers. Here we talk to Small Black’s Josh Hayden Kolenik about the cover of Limits of Desire. More


Reviews

May 21, 2014

Small Black quickly follows its 2013 sophomore full-length, Limits of Desire, with the Real People EP. Guest artist Frankie Rose’s vocals blend into the tones of Small Black’s Josh Kolenik on the fizzing dance-pop title track, a strong starter to the EP. More

Jun 03, 2013

“I’ve been keeping my, keeping myself from you/Hoping you, hoping you just come to.” Such are the softly uttered lyrics that kick off Small Black’s second album, Limits of Desire, another exercise in ‘80s-tinged dream-pop after 2010’s debut, New Chain. More

Mar 26, 2013

I didn’t get to see everything I wanted to at Under the Radar’s seventh annual SXSW party. (Like any good hostess, I found myself often forgoing the entertainment to make sure no one went thirsty.) However, I was able to see a large handful of favorites (old and new) including: DIANA, Big Black Delta, Shout Out Louds, Young Dreams, Gold & Youth, Young Galaxy, Poolside, DIIV, Dan Croll, NZCA/LINES, IO Echo, and Small Black. More