Interview - The The: the duty of an artist is to reflect the times when he lives

After years of silence, the legendary The the, led by Matt Johnson, return to the scenes with a world tour.

The tour named after “Ensuiled World Tour” follows the publication of “Ensoulment” (Read the review), the band's first unpublished album in almost 25 years, successor of “Nakedself” (2000).

The only Italian date is scheduled for Saturday 28 June 2025 at the Amphitheater of the Vittoriale di Gardone Riviera (BS), as part of the Tenner-A-Meno Festival.

We interviewed him and told us about his relationship with time, the evolution of his writing and the way in which political and social transformations influence his work.

The interview

A long wait and a great return. “Ensoulment” was welcomed as one of the best albums of the year, arriving after a quarter of a century of record silence. How has your music evolved in these 25 years?

I think it was a natural evolution compared to my previous works.
By aging, the voice changes, as the perspective with which the world is observed changes.
I have experienced many experiences, some extraordinary, others very painful, and all this inevitably reflects in my writing.

I think that “Ensoulment” reflects today's world just as “infected” reflected 1986: I have always been fascinated by the idea that music could be a mirror of society, a form of intimate diary that tells not only my personal path, but also the cultural, political and social changes that we cross.
There is a quote by Nina Simone who find illuminating: 'The duty of an artist is to reflect the times when he lives'.
And that's exactly what I've always tried to do with my music.
It is essential to have hope. And I hope people get from the album what we have put in it.
It was created in very happy circumstances, with a great atmosphere between the band and all the people who worked on it.
There were many thoughts, a lot of work, a lot of love, many laughs! “

You said the disc reflects the time we live in. How do you see the current political and social panorama?

We live in a period of great instability and transformation. In recent decades, neoliberal policies have gradually eroded many of the social achievements obtained after the war. Wild privatization has led to growing inequality and impoverished the working classes, while governments seem more and more respond to the interests of the great corporations rather than those of citizens.
Globalization, which initially seemed to promise progress and connection between peoples, proved to be a new form of economic colonialism, with entire nations put under check by unsustainable debts and forced to give their resources to foreign multinationals.
Now we are witnessing a reaction against this system, but it is not yet clear where it will take us.
We are in a very delicate transition phase, and the future will depend on how people will be able to organize themselves to resume control of their lives and nations. “

Your visual aesthetic has always been very distinctive, thanks also to the work of your brother Andrew, who passed away in 2016. What relationship do you have with art?

Art has always been an essential part of my existence. My brother Andrew was an extraordinary artist, and his aesthetic contributed to defining the image of The The The music as much as music. His disappearance was an immense loss, but I decided to continue using his art to honor his memory and to keep our creative bond alive.
For me, art is not only an aesthetic question, but a fundamental element to give meaning to life. In England, unfortunately, artistic education is increasingly marginalized, and this is a great mistake: art is a nourishment for the soul, a universal language that helps to understand the world and express complex emotions.
I myself left school at 15 years without qualifications, but music, writing and art have allowed me to build a path of personal and professional growth.
I think everyone should have the opportunity to explore their creativity without constraints. “

What is your thought on artificial intelligence?

It worries me deeply. If used with criteria, the IA can be a useful tool, but I fear that its negative impact far exceeds the benefits.
Already today we rely too much on technology for tasks that once required cognitive abilities and reasoning.
When I was a child, I had to remember dozens of telephone numbers by heart; Today, with smartphones, I barely remember mine.
This is a trivial example, but shows how quickly we are delegating our skills to technological tools, making us more and more employees.
The thing that worries me most, however, is the use of the AI in the military.
We are already seeing the development of autonomous drones and combat robots, which raises disturbing questions about who has control of these technologies and how they will be used.
Technology is evolving much faster than our ability to regulate it from an ethical and moral point of view.
We are on a dangerous road, and I'm afraid that the consequences could be catastrophic. “

Let's talk about the tour: what can we expect from your summer concerts?

This time we will do only one set, which will include four or five songs of “Ensoulment” together with songs taken from my previous albums. The band will be made up of extraordinary musicians: Earl Harvin on drums, Barrie Cadogan on guitar, James Eller on bass, DC Collard on keyboards and I under voice and guitar.
I wanted an essential approach, to put the intensity of music and the emotion of words in the foreground.
I know that the places we will play are incredibly suggestive, and I can't wait to perform in Italy, a country that I love deeply. “

Thanks, Matt. See you in Gardone Riviera!

Yes, come and visit us! Italy is one of my favorite places in the world: I love people, food, architecture, climate.
I have a special bond with your country, and I can't wait to return.