TV on the Radio's Kyp Malone Goes Solo With 'Rain Machine'

TV on the Radio guitarist/vocalist Kyp Malone's solo project, Rain Machine, is one that has been gestating for several years. As many solo projects begin, it was just him and a guitar at the beginning. But when he finally found a break in the TV on the Radio cycle and could get into the studio, he decided that more than just his voice and one instrument would be needed.

"There are certainly records that are that bare that I enjoy, but I feel like as a writer and performer, I'm a ways off from being able to pull that off on a level of my liking," Malone tells Spinner. "I feel like it would be boring to me and if it was boring to me, then it would definitely be boring to a lot of other people. And also, if you're in the studio and you have access to multitracking technology and other instruments, it's fun to try and see how you can make a little world inside of a song."

That said, a few songs have a sparse tone about them, but that's compared to the full-on rock of Malone's full time gig with TV on the Radio. It's easy to notice that some scaling back has occurred -- songs such as 'Smiling Black Faces,' 'Driftwood Heart' and 'New Last Name' are simple and work to highlight Malone's vocals, of which he says have been honed over the years from constant touring. "If it sounds like progress, that has more to do with the fact that I'm touring and singing all the time," he says. "I hope its progressing. Now, I just can't wait to make another record and focus on vocals more."

You can hear 'Rain Machine' in its entirety on Spinner's Listen Party all this week. Malone kicks off a month-long tour tonight in Brooklyn.