Jamie Lidell – Places Of Unknowing

By David Holland on March 12, 2026

Jamie Lidell Releases Full Concert Video,
Performing His LP Places of Unknowing For The First Time

Playing Big Ears Festival W/ Luke Schneider On March 26th

Places of Unknowing LP Out Now via TODO

Jamie Lidell today has released a live video of his performance at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music in Nashville, TN. The video is a live showcase of his recent album Places of Unknowing, released last year via TODO Records. The LP earned praise and support from Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, FLOOD Magazine, Tape Op, Northern Transmissions, and more. Lidell will also be playing Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN on March 26th.

The live performance served as the first public unveiling of Places of Unknowing. The music emerged during the pandemic, when Lidell, a longtime Nashville resident, began studying piano with Blair faculty member Pascal Le Boeuf. Stepping away from digital production, Lidell immersed himself in writing at the piano, composing a deeply personal collection of songs.

Blair percussionists Ji Hye Jung and Lee Vinson, inspired the use of a wider palette of tones in the music. Many of the lyrics came from his wife, artist Lindsey Rome, whose words he transformed into music. The resulting album represents one of Lidell’s most intimate and expressive works to date.

The opportunity to premiere this project in Turner Hall, rather than a conventional rock venue, was significant moment for Lidell, as it brings the music to life with the very musicians who helped shape it. The album features performances from many Blair faculty members, as well as internationally recognized Nashville musicians, such as keyboardist Rob Burger and bassist Ethan Jodziewicz.

The new album is a complete departure from everything he’s done before–working with esteemed classical (Grammy Winning) musicians Rob Berger & Pascal LeBoef, Jamie’s new sound verges on neoclassical with various parts of his history shining through. Jamie explains: “The piano explores the world afterwards. Before is a story of love that was always transactional. The voice, rather than cowering to the realization, stands in defiance with a little hope for those that can relate.”

Lidell has had both a mainstream pop / soul career where he has opened for artists such as Prince, James Brown and Bjork to that of a nameless, faceless techno producer in his Super_Collider days. This album is Jamie reflecting on his past, drawing inspiration from various stages of his career and the results are a reflective, grown up Jamie wrapped up in a full orchestral piece.

Places of Unknowing is Lidell’s first full-length release since 2016’s Building a Beginning and marks a striking evolution in both sound and spirit. During COVID lockdown, Jamie took it on himself to learn piano for the first time, and began recording some lyrics written by his wife, Lindsey. Singing some else’s words – albeit someone he felt a deep responsibility to – and having an entirely new musical palette to draw from was immensely refreshing.

The results are gripping: heavily inspired by David Sylvian and Bowie, on Places of Unknowing Jamie explores dark places, revisiting some of the shadows he cavorted through with Super_Collider, but with new confidence and clarity.

LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Jamie Lidell – Places of Unknowing Full Performance

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