Album Review: urika’s bedroom Debuts a Bold, Emotional Journey in ‘Big Smile, Black Mire’
urika’s bedroom’s debut album, Big Smile, Black Mire, out now via True Panther, is a sonic revelation. Self-produced and engineered entirely by ub, this album marks a powerful entrance, immersing listeners in a layered world where guitars are reimagined and emotions intertwine. Each track feels like a deep dive into longing and alienation, capturing that rare ability to make disparate feelings coexist—what ub calls “emotional juxtaposition.” The album’s avant-garde creative direction is both fresh and haunting, showcasing ub’s skill in transforming raw emotion into arresting soundscapes.
The release is accompanied by a black-and-white visualizer for “Metalhead,” created by Rich Smith, adding a visceral layer to the album’s aura of distortion and introspection. Earlier singles like “Video Music,” “Circle Games,” “XTC,” and the debut track “Junkie” hinted at ub’s distinct sound, but Big Smile, Black Mire brings these elements to their fullest, delivering a lucid, atmospheric depiction of complex inner worlds.
Already turning heads, urika’s bedroom is on tour with Chanel Beads across Europe and will soon take the stage at Pitchfork Festival in Paris and London. With a North American tour set for early 2025, including stops at Tomorrow Never Knows Festival in Chicago and shows in New York and LA, ub is poised to make waves far beyond this release. The LA music scene provided fertile ground for urika’s bedroom, with past collaborations with untitled (halo) and Ded Hyatt, and tours with Youth Lagoon and Nourished By Time adding depth to their musical vision.
Big Smile, Black Mire is a debut that pulls no punches, offering an entrancing blend of vulnerability, intensity, and sonic innovation. It’s an album that leaves a lasting impression, an evocative journey that stays with you long after the final note fades.
Upcoming Live Dates
# = supporting Chanel Beads
Tickets: https://www.urikasbedroom.net
11/03/24 – Brussels, BE @ Les Nuits Weekender
11/07/24 – Nantes, FR @ Catapult Festival
11/08/24 – Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Paris
11/09/24 – London, UK @ Pitchfork London
11/11/24 – Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana
11/13/24 – London, UK @ The Great Escape First Fifty – Paper Dress Vintage
11/14/24 – Manchester, UK @ YES #
11/15/24 – Leeds, UK @ Headrow House #
11/17/24 – Dublin, IE @ Bello Bar #
01/15/25 – Chicago, IL @ Tomorrow Never Knows Festival
02/21/25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
02/28/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
