Tinlicker

Who they are

• 

  Tinlicker

  Utrecht, Netherlands

  “The use of real instruments, ranging from strings to keys to horns, has long been a staple of the ensemble that helps to separate their sound from more traditional dance acts.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  The use of real instruments, ranging from strings to keys to horns, has long been a staple of the ensemble that helps to separate their sound from more traditional dance acts. Beyond the instrumentation, their music also has an unusual and powerful propensity to evoke an array of feelings, from euphoria to sadness, and everything in between. It’s music one can dance to, no doubt, but it’s also music that tells a compelling story. After their 2021 breakthrough with single ‘Because You Move Me’ (over 1 billion streams now), Tinlicker implemented some radical changes - they left their long-time label, Anjunadeep for [PIAS] and transitioned from performing purely DJ sets to a format including live/band performances. Risky but well-calculated choices, necessary for the next steps to realize the creative direction of the album they were working on, ‘Cold Enough For Snow’ (2024). The resulting LP was a masterclass in balancing innovation with quality. Reroute to remain. Stylistically diverse, it includes melodic (‘Glasshouse’) to indie-electronic (‘This Life’ and ‘Nothing To Lose’), to clubbier, more techno-leaning instrumentals, such as ‘Blowfish’ and ‘Revolution’, and even a track without their customary four-on-the-floor beats, ‘Strawberry.’ Tinlicker produced the song in collaboration with Metropole Orkest, a Netherlands-based jazz and pop orchestra with whom they had previously performed at ADE opening. Marking the LP, Tinlicker then hit the road for headline tours across Europe and North America and for festivals like Pinkpop, Sziget, Coachella and Portola. In 2025 Hero Baldwin formally joined the group as both live and studio member after earlier performances including their biggest ever live show, the spectacular Tinlicker In The Park (Crystal Palace Bowl) in summer 2025. With the single ‘I Want My Freedom’ they kicked off album chapter four, the first as a group of three. Their extensive EU/UK tour began Spring 2026 including Manchester’s Albert Hall, London’s Exhibition, AFAS Live Amsterdam, AB Brussels and festivals like Hurricane and Southside. In September/October 2026 they tour through North America again. Tinlicker is here to push boundaries for the sake of art and chase what they’re passionate about, rather than choosing to blend in and play it safe. “We don’t like living safe,” one of the members once said. When it comes to making music, “there’s only one rule: we have to like it.”
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists PIAS, Armada Music, Future Classic, Virgin Music Germany and 2 more.