Kevin Bronson on May 5th, 2020

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Had the coronavirus not descended, NoMBe would be in the middle of a 32-date tour leading up to the release of his new opus, “Chromatopia.” In today’s edition of Buzz Bands LA’s QUARANTUNES, hear why it is such an anticipated release, as NoMBe talks about “days that seem to blend into one another.”

THE LATEST FROM NOMBE

Perhaps no recent album showed more artistic breadth than “They Might’ve Even Loved Me,” the 2018 collection from German-born, L.A.-based musical polymath Noah McBeth — aka NoMBe. For his next act, the artist is releasing “Chromatopia” on June 12 — a second helping of McBeth’s intensely personal pop-soul.

“Weirdo” (with a remix that arrived today) is a powerful outsider anthem, informed by the singer-songwriter-producer’s upbringing. He explains it this way via social media: “I used to feel really insecure about what made me different, the fact that I was the only kid in school with divorced parents, overweight, biracial and loved ‘Star Wars.’ I was an awkward-ass kid who loved Wu-Tang and the Offspring, sketching animé and wrote poetry instead of soccer practice. But with every year that goes by, I realize that odd circumstances made me what I am today. My passion for music and people, my appreciation for everything queer, I wouldn’t change a thing.” In honor of the single, NoMBe invited his quarantined fans to get weird with him — they sent him videos of singing along and acting out to the single, which the artist assembled in a montage for the “Couples Quarantine” video for the song.

The first single, the ’80s-influenced “Paint California” (released back in December), is good for your lockdown dances, too.

HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MANAGE THE ‘STAY AT HOME’ EDICT?

It’s been all over the place. … I’ve mostly been working on new music and trying to stay organized, cleaning, cooking. It’s easy to lose yourself, and days seem to blend into one another. But I finally got to finish some shows I’ve been meaning to watch, too!

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THIS IS OVER?

When this is over, I look most forward to traveling. Maybe going somewhere nice or visiting my mum on the East Coast. Hitting a bar with friends would be nice, too.

ANYTHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PLAYLIST?

This playlist is really all over the place in a great way. It’s an eclectic mix of things I’ve been listening to at home, new artists I found and general tunes that fit the world of “Chromatopia.” Hope people will discover something they dig.