Tune-Yards Perform ‘hypnotized’ On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’

Tune-Yards served as musical guest on Wednesday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. Merrill Garbus led the group through a theatrical, remote performance of “hypnotized.”

Last night marked the debut of “hypnotized,” a song which appears on the new Tune-Yards album, sketchy. Tune-Yards will release “hypnotized” on Tuesday before sketchy comes out next Friday, March 26 via 4AD.

The 11-track follow-up to 2018’s i can feel you creep into my private life was recorded by Garbus and musical partner Nate Brenner after a bit of a hiatus. “We had really been non-stop hustling,” Merrill noted in a statement regarding the break. “And when we’re hustling, we’re complicit in all of the systems that I really don’t believe in.”

However, the duo was inspired by the Beastie Boys Book and Questlove’s Creative Quest to get back to work. “I started remembering that people come to us to be entertained, to move, to feel joy,” added Garbus. “And together, I think, we can wake up.”

Tune-Yards’ “hypnotized” performance from last night’s Kimmel begins with Merrill playing with a doll wearing the same clothes as Garbus does. Then, an expanded version of the whole band is shown including Brenner, drummer Hamir Atwal, saxophonist Matt Nelson and backing vocalists Moira Smiley and Ayo Awosika. Merrill lays the doll down at the end of the remote performance.

Watch the debut of “hypnotized” below: