MOTO SOLO, the latest sonic venture from veteran drummer-turned-frontman Bobby Tamkin, continues his compelling run of synth-laced singles with the release of “History Crept On Me.” Co-produced by Queens of the Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman, the track expands the cinematic, emotional depth Tamkin has steadily carved out with his baritone vocal delivery and brooding electronic aesthetic.
Following the pulsing “There’s Another Way,” its standout Gui Boratto rework, and the mesmerizing “Celebration Sound,” “History Crept On Me” showcases MOTO SOLO at its most introspective. The single folds rich textures of shimmering synths, shadowy atmospheres, and Tamkin’s evocative vocals into a track that’s as haunting as it is strangely uplifting.
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“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,” explains Tamkin.
With deep roots in both the alternative rock and experimental scenes, Tamkin’s journey to MOTO SOLO has been anything but conventional. After early stints in the formative Seattle experimental rock group Hovercraft—where he lived and played among the likes of Eddie Vedder, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney—he toured with Foo Fighters, The Melvins, and collaborated with icons like Dave Grohl and Mike Watt.
Back in Los Angeles, Tamkin played with numerous acts including The Warlocks and auditioned for artists like Beck and Kyuss before stepping back from drumming to chart his own path. Learning piano and taking his first foray into songwriting led to the creation of his acclaimed project Xu Xu Fang. That band’s atmospheric, psych-rock style earned critical attention from outlets including Rolling Stone, The Onion AV Club, and MOJO, as well as sync placements on Gossip Girl, Bates Motel, ESPN’s 30 for 30, and more.
“The band gave me a lot of confidence that you don’t have to be an expert at music to write something that can connect with people,” Tamkin reflects. “Frankly, I had no idea what I was doing.”
MOTO SOLO marks Tamkin’s first fully realized solo project—vocals, lyrics, songwriting, and production all led by him. “Xu Xu Fang was my band, but I never sang anything,” he notes. “I’d write the music and lyrics, then hand the lyrics over to somebody else to sing. 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.”
That new direction began taking shape in 2023, when Tamkin started writing with his own voice in mind for the first time. Shuman, who had previously contributed to Xu Xu Fang’s Daylong Secret, returned to collaborate on the new material, lending instrumentation, arrangements, and co-production across the forthcoming album. Sessions were completed at Highland Park’s 64 Sound studio with GRAMMY-winning engineer Michael Harris (Lana Del Rey, Arctic Monkeys).
MOTO SOLO’s creative DNA pulls from a wide spectrum—echoes of Depeche Mode, New Order, and Kraftwerk blend with the drive and theatricality of Van Halen. “There’s Another Way,” mastered by Joe LaPorta (David Bowie, Björk), set the tone for what’s shaping up to be a dynamic debut LP.
With “History Crept On Me,” MOTO SOLO steps further into focus, delivering a resonant track that captures the spirit of emotional resilience and the quiet, mysterious forces that pull us through.