
Los Angeles-based MOTO SOLO continues its run of cinematic, synth-driven releases with a striking new single, “History Crept On Me.” Co-produced by Queens of the Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman, the track furthers the project’s signature blend of moody electronics, deep vocals, and immersive storytelling.
Bobby Tamkin, the creative force behind MOTO SOLO, shares, “Lyrically, History Crept on Me speaks to the quiet chaos within—a moment when you’re lost or unraveling, and someone from your past returns, just when you need them most. You’re happily surprised and relieved when they appear. After creating the music video, I realized another meaning: that we sometimes slip into our deepest fears, not realizing that all we ever needed was the presence of a friend to help snap us out.”
Tamkin’s musical roots run deep. Before launching MOTO SOLO, he was a founding member of Seattle’s experimental trio Hovercraft, a group that toured with Foo Fighters and shared stages with icons like Dave Grohl and Mike Watt. In those early days, he found himself immersed in the Seattle music scene, jamming with members of Soundgarden and Mudhoney, while living in a house filled with gear, musicians, and creative energy.
Eventually, Tamkin returned to Los Angeles, where he performed with psych rock outfit The Warlocks and collaborated with artists like Flea and John Frusciante. Despite a promising path as a drummer, Tamkin took a step back to explore songwriting, ultimately leading to the formation of his previous project, Xu Xu Fang. The band’s immersive soundscapes earned praise from Rolling Stone, MOJO, The Onion AV Club, and Consequence, while also catching the attention of film and TV supervisors with placements in Gossip Girl, Bates Motel, The Originals, and ESPN’s 30 for 30.
But MOTO SOLO marks a new chapter. Unlike his previous projects, Tamkin is now the one behind the microphone, handling vocals, songwriting, and production. “Xu Xu Fang was my band, but I never sang anything,” he says. “It was fun, but there was a disconnect. Felt like it was time to emerge from the curtain. It was the only musical challenge left.”
The journey to MOTO SOLO’s debut album began in earnest in 2023, as Tamkin started writing material specifically for his own voice. He reconnected with Shuman, who had previously contributed to Xu Xu Fang’s work, and the two began shaping the new material in Tamkin’s home studio before finishing the sessions at Highland Park’s 64 Sound with engineer Michael Harris (Lana Del Rey, Arctic Monkeys).
“History Crept On Me” follows a string of recent releases, including “There’s Another Way,” its Gui Boratto rework, and “Celebration Sound.” Where earlier singles leaned heavily into electronic rhythms and New Wave stylings, this new release adds emotional gravity and melodic restraint, showing a deeper dimension of Tamkin’s songwriting.
With influences that stretch from the atmospheric pull of Depeche Mode to the bold theatricality of classic rock, MOTO SOLO has carved out a sound that feels nostalgic and modern at once. “History Crept On Me” is an arresting new chapter—proof that Tamkin’s creative instincts are only sharpening as he steps further into the spotlight.
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