Bonobo (Simon Green) has announced his new album Distance in Static, set for release on September 11, 2026, via Ninja Tune, and revealed early details of a live show that aims to push the visual and architectural boundaries of his celebrated concert productions.
Over a 25-year career, the electronic artist has released two Top 10 albums, accumulated billions of streams, and earned both BRIT and GRAMMY nominations. His collaborations include work with Erykah Badu and Damon Albarn, and his pioneering full-band live performances have sold out venues such as the Sydney Opera House, Alexandra Palace, and Red Rocks Amphitheatre, often as the first electronic act to do so.
Recording Distance in Static
The album took shape across multiple locations, without a predetermined concept. “I rarely set out to make a full record,” Green said. “I just work on music until a critical mass forms and a record takes shape. It really comes into focus towards the end.”
Early ideas ranged from a trip-hop project to a more experimental instrumental album, but the final work drew from sessions on tour buses in Europe, in hotel rooms, and in studios across London, Los Angeles, and Japan. A pivotal period was spent at Broken Arrow Ranch in the California, the former studio of Neil Young.
“It was a really lucky opportunity. The place is super isolated and well preserved, though the studio has been modernized with digital gear. There are pictures of Crosby, Stills and Nash jamming right outside the window. Surrounded by trees and a river, it was a really peaceful experience. I didn’t want to leave.”
Evolving the live experience
Green’s last tour included a historic five-night residency at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the longest consecutive run by a single artist at the venue. “Each night became more emotionally intense, culminating with the organist joining for the end of the set. It was insane,” he recalled.
For the upcoming shows, Green has enlisted stage designer Pierre Claude, known for recent work with Gesaffelstein, The xx, and the Air ‘Moon Safari’ tour. “The new show is going to be really insane. Pierre has come up with some really cool ideas. The next step leans more into the visual, something more structural, architectural, and multi-dimensional.”
A North American tour is scheduled for the end of 2026, with European dates to follow in early 2027.
