The Penguin Rocks logo
The Penguin Rocks Menu



 

Slenderbodies to Release "Simple Shapes" album

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 02/23/2022


(NEW YORK, NY) -- California based, indie-pop duo slenderbodies will release their upcoming album, simple shapes, due June 10. On February 23, the duo released double singles, “tiger balm (magenta)” and “i can’t make up my mind”.

'"tiger balm (magenta)' was written about wanting to find balance in love, consistency and comfort. magenta is a color that is in between hot and cold, so essentially a metaphor for finding a comfortable middle ground, or becoming a non-polarized version of oneself," said slenderbodies.  

In discussing, "i can't make up my mind," they said, "exploring indecision. every facet of our lives were controlled by your decisions, and the thought of that can be overwhelming or overbearing at times. These extend even to choices like choosing the bed you sleep in which could help or hurt your health years down the line, or your simplest of hobbies becoming your career path or what you are known for, just because you decided to try it one day. Likewise, lack of choice can decide things for you sometimes."  

The 16-track, progressive and punchy, dream-pop album includes plenty of lush percussive guitars, synth and fun grooves in the drums.. The album title is derived from its title track, tying the record together with the song lyrics: leaving a trail of simple shapes – a metaphor for leaving a trail of significant memories as life progresses.

“All we really have are the little moments, and this is at the core of the themes of escapism, joy, frustration and emotional coping that are at the core of this record,” said the duo. “the new album explores a theme of lack of authenticity through representing ourselves online. Our first single, ‘plastic parts’ was the genesis of this, and is further explored through the concept of the mannequins in our visual content. beyond that initial theme, we explore themes of staying present as a means to deal with difficult things in the world, and paying attention to the role that music plays in our lives to let us escape into another world. overall theme of looking for contentment and consistent comfort over explosive fleeting joys.”




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



slenderbodies first emerged in 2016 with their mesmerizing eight-track EP, sotto voce taking its name from an Italian phrase meaning to speak softly but with emphasis. Recorded remotely with guitarist Benji Cormack living in Santa Cruz and singer/guitarist Max Vehuni residing in Los Angeles, the collection quickly caught fire on Spotify, where it racked up millions of streams without any label or radio support. The next year, the pair returned with a second EP, fabulist, which launched their following into the stratosphere as lead single “anemone” garnered more than 30 million plays across platforms. The duo soon found themselves onstage in front of massive crowds around the world, sharing bills with the likes of Mura Masa, Passion Pit, PVRIS,  Milky Chance and also performing at Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza.

Their last EP, Soraya, examined the powerful impact of all the influential women in their lives and amassed nearly ten million streams. Soraya held true to all the elements that brought the falsetto-loving duo to acclaim since their debut song “anemone” racked up over 20 million streams. The Line Of Best Fit proclaimed that slenderbodies “conjure an immersive world” with their “genre-blurring” music, while Complex described their songs as “subtle but infectious,” and Billboard praised their “intimacy” and “daring.”

simple shapes tracklist

1. plastic parts

2. smilin

3. chamomile

4. i can’t make up my mind

5. tiger balm (magenta)

6. husky brown

7. miracle

8. opinion

9. fake milk

10. splash out

11. would you break my fall?

12. dip

13. heat right now

14. staring

15. simple shapes

16. moment



North America Tour Dates:

Jun 02 – Santa Barbara, CA @ SOhO Music Club

Jun 03 – San Diego, CA @ Music Box

Jun 04 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent

Jun 06 ­– Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn

Jun 07 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada

Jun 09 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West

Jun 10 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

Jun 11­ – Philadelphia, PA @ Foundry @ Fillmore

Jun 13 ­– Washington D.C. @ Union Stage

Jun 14 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

Jun 15 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

Jun 17 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground

Jun 18 – Montreal, ON @ Ritz

Jun 19 – Toronto, ON @ Adelaide Hall

Jun 21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Music Hall

Jun 22 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Bar

Jun 25 – Rothberg, MI @ Electric Forest

Jun 26 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

Jun 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café

Jun 30 ­– Denver, CO @ Gothic

Jul 01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Hanger House

Jul 03 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos

Jul 04 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore

Jul 05 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre

Jul 07 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall

Jul 08 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre

For more on the band, follow them on Instagram and Twitter.


 

FEATURED EVENTS


George Street Playhouse presents "Good Witch Bad Witch"

Thursday, June 25, 2026 @ 3:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ


George Street Playhouse presents "Good Witch Bad Witch"

Thursday, June 25, 2026 @ 7:30pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ


Guest Attraction: Friends of Jockey Hollow present Rick Atkinson on the War for America, Morristown & Jockey Hollow, 1777 – 1780

Thursday, June 25, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ


Eric Johanson

Thursday, June 25, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ


Mysterious Ways -The U2 Experience

Friday, June 26, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ



 

Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info





 

COLUMNS


This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from June 23-29, 2026

Here is a look at shows taking place from June 23-29, 2026 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "I Will Walk You Home” by Wiser Time




This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from June 16-22, 2026




BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 6/15/26






 

MORE NEWS

(SAYREVILLE, NJ) -- Starland Ballroom presents The Cab on Friday, June 26, 2026 at 7:30pm.  Paradise Fears and CARR will open the night.


Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena presents James Taylor and His All-Star Band on Saturday




The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Bees Deluxe and Eclipse on July 31st




The Vogel presents Billy Bragg with special guest Sweet Petunia on Sunday




bergenPAC presents Warrant on July 12th






 

UPCOMING SHOWS


MPAC Announces Free Summer Concert Lineup for 2026

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center's Arts in the Community free summer concert schedule for 2026 has been announced. MPAC will present six free concerts between June and August. The lineup includes the return of three of their most popular events – Bollywood Dance Party, Country Line Dancing and Salsa at Sunset, as well as singer-songwriters, and more.


2026-27 Season Preview: Split Level Concerts at Jersey Shore Arts Center




Cape May Point Arts and Science Center presents Grammy-Nominated Blues artist Guy Davis on June 24th




Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Eric Johanson on Thursday






Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




The Penguin Rocks

© 2026 by Wine Time Media, LLC
PO Box 811, Belmar, NJ 07719
[email protected]

Presented by New Jersey Stage

Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our NJ Stage accounts on Instagram, and Threads


News | Features | Radio Shows | Penguin's Hall of Fame | Song of the Week | BlowUpRadio column

Contact Us | About Us | Submit Music | Ad Rates