Nikki Nair and Jessy Lanza Guest on Australian Trio’s First Proper Single in Six Years

The Australian electronic music collective The Avalanches has officially ended a six-year hiatus from new material, returning with the release of a vibrant new single titled “Together.” The track marks the first proper release of new music from the group since their 2020 project, signaling a new era for the ensemble known for their intricate sampling and sonic collage work.

The new single features a collaborative lineup of guest vocalists, including Nikki Nair, Jessy Lanza, and Prentiss. Released via the group’s official channels and Modular Recordings, “Together” serves as the primary introduction to the band’s upcoming fourth studio album, a project that has been the subject of intense speculation among fans and critics alike.

Accompanying the audio is a surreal, animated music video that blends nostalgic technology with modern digital art. The visual, which has quickly gained traction across streaming platforms, captures the whimsical spirit of the track while hinting at the broader themes of the forthcoming LP.

A Visual Celebration of Obsolete Technology

The music video for “Together” was directed and animated by Jonathan Zawada, a frequent collaborator of the group. Zawada’s visual approach for this release is an exercise in anthropomorphic nostalgia, featuring a digital dance between two iconic pieces of legacy hardware: an iPod and a floppy disk.

The animation depicts these objects as living characters, dancing in synchronization to the track’s rhythmic drive. By pairing the iPod—a symbol of the early digital music revolution—with the floppy disk—a relic of the analog-to-digital transition—the video mirrors The Avalanches’ own musical philosophy of bridging different eras of sound through sampling and synthesis.

The Road to LP #4: Digital Teases and ‘Takumi’

The release of “Together” follows a calculated and mysterious promotional campaign that began late last year. The group first signaled their return via an Instagram Stories post, which featured an image of a stack of hard drives accompanied by the caption “LP #4.” This post confirmed that the group had been working on their fourth studio album, following the 2020 release of We Will Always Love You.

Adding to the intrigue, The Avalanches recently launched a website for a fictitious entity called “Takumi.” The site, which appeared as a corporate landing page for a fake company, served as a cryptic puzzle for the fanbase. This was followed by a complete wipe of the group’s Instagram account, which was subsequently rebranded with a new official band logo, clearing the slate for the “Together” era.

Legacy of Sound and Sampling

The return of The Avalanches is a significant event for the electronic music community, given the group’s history as pioneers of the “plunderphonics” style. Their debut album, Since I Left You, remains one of the most celebrated works in the genre for its seamless weaving of thousands of disparate samples into a cohesive, euphoric experience. The group recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of that landmark LP with a special reissue.

While their 2020 album, We Will Always Love You, moved toward a more collaborative approach—featuring artists such as MGMT, Blood Orange, and Karen O—the new single “Together” suggests a continuation of this guest-heavy, inclusive sound. By integrating the voices of Jessy Lanza and Nikki Nair, the group continues to evolve their atmospheric pop sensibilities while maintaining the rhythmic complexity that defines their identity.

The release of “Together” on Modular Recordings establishes the momentum for the upcoming album. As the group transitions from the “Takumi” mystery into a full promotional cycle, the industry is watching to see how they will redefine the boundaries of sample-based music in 2026.

The next confirmed milestone for the group is the full release of their fourth studio album, though a specific date has not yet been officially announced. Fans are encouraged to monitor the group’s updated social media channels for further updates on the LP.

Do you think the “Together” visuals capture the spirit of the music? Share your thoughts in the comments below or share this story with fellow electronic music enthusiasts.