It's not Body/Head and it's definitely not Sonic Youth. Today, the legendary Kim Gordon has officially stepped out on her own with the new single "Murdered Out." The new track, featuring a beat from Warpaint's Stella Mozgawa, would fit perfectly on an early Nine Inch Nails or Nitzer Ebb LP, or maybe even as a track off the latest Youth Code release. Check it out below, alongside a statement from the Sonic Youth great regarding the inspiration: a move to Los Angeles.

When I moved back to LA, I noticed more and more cars painted with black matte spray, tinted windows, blackened logos and black wheels. This was something I had occasionally seen in the past, part of lowrider car culture. A reclaiming of a corporate symbol of American success, The Car, from an outsider’s point of view. A statement-making rejection of the shiny brand new look, the idea of a new start, the promise of power, and the freedom on the open road. Like an option on a voting ballot, "none of the above.”

“Murdered Out," as a look, is now creeping into mainstream culture as a design trend. A coffee brand. A clothing line. A nailpolish color.

Black-on-black matte is the ultimate expression in digging out, getting rid of, purging the soul. Like a black hole, the supreme inward look, a culture collapsing in on itself, the outsider as an unwilling participant as the “It" look.

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I met the uber talented Justin Raisen, the producer, offhandedly. He was working on a project with another artist and kept sending me tracks to listen to with the possibility of getting me to sing on one of them. When I learned I could make up my own lyrics, I was in. With the remaining bits of unused vocals, he started what would be "Murdered Out." Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint) plays drums, based on the trashy drums that Justin first laid down. I went back and did more vocals and guitar and we mixed it…"Murdered Out" was such a great surprise! Looking forward to our next collaboration.

Kim Gordon
August 2016

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