What was the most significant thing you learnt during the recording of the new record?
During recording you learn so much - different ways of communicating. It’s a process where surely and slowly you get it more and more right, and learn better ways of balancing ideas instead of just letting it fall apart. Communicating what's going on in your head to your band members helps you make better creative choices.
Do you feel at home being the main man on stage?
Well, I’m not out there to be a main man – that’s the outside world’s perceptions. The music’s important, as is being surrounded by good people. You know I have Gus with me, my best friend and Matt on drums. So I’m not solo, just surrounded by different musicians.
How precious are you about solo success?
I wouldn’t say I was precious. Art needs money to continue and I certainly want to continue. But it is not the be all and end all of everything. I strive for success and I’m ambitious, but success to me is getting the album finished, and that sense of completion. And then from that you grow as a person.
You’ve taken on electro and reggae influences in the new record. Are there any other genres you’d like to tackle?
Well, today in music styles are so blurred that you can go in any number of different directions. With those songs, that is just where they wanted to go. Usually it’s just a result of working on something new. Working on something that isn’t your strength - and trying to make it your strength. To discover it, and own it.
What are you looking forward to over the next year?
I got a few things. I’m working on a movie that will hopefully come out. With a friend that wrote the script of a Charles Bukowski book. And I’m working on a suitline. I am known for the suits that I wear. I get asked where I get them from all the time. So I thought that’d be fun.
And finally, what scares you most?
I’m really frightened at the idea of being stuck somewhere like in the middle of an ocean. Like surviving something epic. Having to ‘make it’. That’s truly scary to me.
At the time of the interview Steve was Senior VP of A&R at RCA Records. He signed and nurtured the careers of The Strokes, Kings of Leon, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, David...
NYC rock band The Dig are the melodic step brothers of bands like The Strokes. With a zooming bass and twin guitars sounding like The New York Dolls' Steve Conte playi...
YES!!
This is going to be FANTASTIC!
Sir Paul McCartney will be performing his first ever SOLO stadium tour in the UK this summer!!
The Beatles legend, who is effing 67, ...
Sonic Editions prints are available to view and buy online now
The Strokes' frontman will hit the road next month
"You only get to appreciate what you do when you're not doing it," says bassist Rob Canning, slurping on a tea. "and now we're back, we're buzzing to go."
PART ONE: WELCOME TO 2008
ARTROCKER:...
Legendary rock photographer Steve Gullick has a retrospective at Manchester’s KRAAK Gallery running from March 12th til March 27th, featuring shots taken for NME and Melody Maker as well as his...
To accompany the review of Tune-yards’ Monday gig at Cargo, a few tasty shots of Think about Life, Trash Kit and New England native Merrill Garbus aka tUnE-yArDs.
Read the review of the night...
We have collected some truly heinous examples of recent album covers, from Empire Of The Sun’s Star Wars travesty to the banal evil that is Razorlight’s Slipway Fire. Discretionary...
Album art in this gallery was selected based on several simple traits: strong concept, fine graphics including creative typography and general lushness. The first three of ‘The Best Record...
Placebo pictures: just in - some photos of Placebo and Brian Molko from last week’s gig at the Glasgow SECC.
Also check out the review here
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