Ruban Nielson is a New Zealand-American musician, singer and songwriter, and the frontman of the psychedelic rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra. He has won two Aotearoa Music Awards and an APRA Silver Scroll, over the course of his band's five studio albums and one extended play.
Nielson performing with Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Southbound in Busselton, Western Australia
The Mint Chicks, the Nielson brothers' first band, quickly reached stardom. The band was also known for younger brother Kody's daredevil nature when performing, which included destroying their corporate sponsor's sign on stage hanging upside down from the stage (pictured).
Unknown Mortal Orchestra are a New Zealand psychedelic rock band formed in Auckland, primarily composed of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Ruban Nielson, and bassist Jacob Portrait. The band is based in Portland, Oregon. Nielson started the band in 2009, initially as a solo project. The band's first album was released in 2011 on Fat Possum Records; four subsequent studio albums have been released on Jagjaguwar, the most recent being V (2023).
Unknown Mortal Orchestra performing at Sala Apolo in Barcelona, Spain in 2015
Ruban Nielson