Unknown Mortal Orchestra shares new single and video, “I Killed Captain Cook”

Unknown Mortal Orchestra has shared the new single “I Killed Captain Cook” alongside a video starring Ruban Nielson‘s mother, Deedee Aipolani Nielson, a Kanaka Maoli from Hilo and Miss Aloha Hula 1973, who also features on the single art.

The tender, acoustic track is told from the perspective of the Hawaiian that killed Captain James Cook, the English explorer largely responsible for the colonization of Polynesia, who attempted to kidnap Hawaiian chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu, and eventually met his demise in Hawai’i as a result. Nielson’s mother would tell him the story as a child with pride and the song is written for, and as a tribute to, her. The song also marks the first offering from Unknown Mortal Orchestra this year and serves as the first taste of a forthcoming double album in 2023.

Listen to “I Killed Captain Cook” and watch the video for it below:

Along with the release of “I Killed Captain Cook,” Unknown Mortal Orchestra has announced their first tour in 4 years with a headline UK and North American tour that is set to kick off in March 2023. See full tour routing below:

20/3 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Spokane
22/3 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
25/3 – Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre
27/3 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
28/3 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
31/3 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
1/4 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
2/4 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
4/4 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
5/4 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
6/4 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
7/4 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
8/4 – Chicago, IL @ Radius
10/4 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
11/4 – Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
13/4 – New York City, NY @ Webster Hall
14/4 – New York City, NY @ Webster Hall
18/4 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
21/4 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
22/4 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner

30/5 – Bexhill, UK @ De La Warr Pavilion
31/5 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
15/6 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
16/6 – Leeds, UK @ Stylus
17/6 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 Galvanizers

Photo credit: Jenny Nielson
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