After a decade of shaping emotive, melodic electronic music for both headphones and dancefloors, Tinlicker are entering a new era. Their latest single, ‘Release’, arrives as the fourth offering from their forthcoming album Dreams of the Machine, while also signaling a bold shift to fully live performances.
Once known as the duo of Micha Heyboer and Jordi van Achthoven, Tinlicker have quietly evolved into a trio with the addition of vocalist Hero Baldwin. Her presence is transformative – not only does it redefine the group’s sonic identity, it completes it.
Set to land on February 27th, Dreams of the Machine explores the tension between human emotion and AI-led technology. It asks an increasingly urgent question: where do we end, and where does the machine begin?
Sonically, the track stays rooted in Tinlicker’s signature blend of melodic progressions and club-ready energy, but pushes the palette forward into something simultaneously edgier yet more accessible. Robotic synth lines and thick, wompy bass sit alongside organic textures, creating a sense of friction that mirrors the track’s theme. Baldwin’s vocals cut through with intention, critiquing our compulsive relationship with smartphones and the subtle erosion of presence that comes with constant distraction.
“Release is about how easily we slip out of the moment,” the band explains. “The habit of checking and responding instantly on our phones slowly takes over our attention to each other. We’re not anti-technology, but aware of what disappears when distraction becomes automatic.”
Across its 14 tracks, Dreams of the Machine will lean fully into live instrumentation, soulful vocals, and reflective lyricism. Technology is not rejected, but thoughtfully woven into the narrative, reinforcing the album’s central theme of coexistence rather than conflict.
Following the album’s release, Tinlicker will debut their new live format on tour across the UK and Europe in March, beginning in Berlin, with major European festival appearances set for June. North American dates are expected to follow shortly, bringing this reimagined Tinlicker experience to audiences worldwide.
