What's Four Tet been up to since he was last at Boomtown?

Kieran Hebden, better known as Four Tet, is a British electronic musician whose journey in music began in the mid‑1990s as a member of the post‑rock band Fridge. With Fridge, he explored textured, instrumental soundscapes, mixing traditional rock instrumentation with electronic experimentation, a foundation that would deeply inform his later solo work. Around 1998, Hebden adopted the Four Tet moniker and released his first single, Thirtysixtwentyfive, seeking to create what he described as “DJ-Shadow style sampledelica.”

As Four Tet, Hebden’s production is renowned for its deft blending of organic and electronic elements: glitchy electronics, folk samples, jazz, hip-hop rhythms, and ambient textures all appear in his work. Over the years, he’s navigated different musical territories - from the intimate, sample‑based constructions on Rounds to club-oriented techno, house, and UK garage in later records. On top of crafting albums, he has collaborated with jazz drummer Steve Reid, produced for experimental artists (like Omar Souleyman), and become a highly respected DJ whose sets can veer from deeply hypnotic downtempo grooves to energetic dancefloor moments.

Four Tet joined us for Boomtown at Chapter One: The Gathering back in 2022 where he ignited the audience at Grand Central. So, what's he been up to since he last hit up the South Downs? 

Released 3

Four Tet’s 12th studio album, Three, dropped on March 15, 2024, via his own label Text Records. The album represents a culmination of his recent explorations in blending electronic textures with melodic, sample-driven compositions.

Across the record, Hebden experiments with intricate rhythms, layered percussion, and ethereal synth lines, maintaining his signature balance of warmth and precision. Critics and fans alike praised Three for its fluidity, highlighting how it traverses ambient, club-oriented, and experimental territories while remaining distinctly Four Tet.

The release also reinforced Hebden’s independent approach to music distribution, giving him full creative control over his work and its presentation.

“Three Drums” & other singles

‍In the lead-up to Three, Four Tet released the single Three Drums in 2023, signaling the album’s rhythmically adventurous direction. The track showcases his mastery of percussive layering, combining live-sounding drums with glitchy electronic elements to create a hypnotic, danceable groove.

Following this, he released other tracks like Loved and Daydream Repeat in early 2024, each demonstrating different facets of his sound from introspective, sample-rich textures to more upbeat, club-ready beats. These releases not only built anticipation for the full album but also reinforced Hebden’s reputation as an artist who can balance experimentation with accessibility.

Performed High-Profile DJ Sets with Skrillex & Fred Again...

Since 2022, Four Tet has increasingly become a sought-after collaborator in live DJ performances, including high-profile back-to-back sets with Skrillex and Fred Again...

A standout example was the February 2023 show at Madison Square Garden, where the trio created a seamless mix of house, techno, and experimental electronic tracks, blending their distinct styles into one electrifying set.

Hebden’s participation highlighted his versatility as a DJ, capable of energizing massive arenas while introducing unexpected edits, rare tracks, and experimental flourishes. These performances further solidified his status as a dynamic live performer, bridging underground sensibilities with mainstream appeal.

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