In a new interview, former REM singer Michael Stipe reveals he’s working slowly but surely.
Michael Stipe reveals in a new interview that he’s slowly but surely working on a solo album, his first since REM disbanded over a decade ago.
THE New York Times checked in on Stipe for over a year, during which progress was made on the solo album, which the singer hoped to see released in 2023 before life events (family emergencies, art exhibitions , Covid, moving, etc.) does not delay it.
At one point, Stipe found himself at the famous New York studio Electric Lady, where Taylor Swift was recording, leading to long conversations with Jack Antonoff and Matty Healy of The 1975 (both big R.E.M. fans ) before Stipe met Swift herself.
At Electric Lady, Stipe has been working on a new version of his 2019 charity single “ Your Capricious Soul », as well as on a still unreleased song entitled “ I’m the Charge “. Additionally, the article reveals that Stipe also recorded his part of a duet with Courtney Love for a yet-to-be-announced project. LCD Soundsystem drummer Pat Mahoney also participated in the session.
THE ” terrible » Stipe’s blank page syndrome eased somewhat following a trip to visit his mother and sister. “ I have a deadline nowhe told them. I could continue working on this album for a decade and let my insecurities take over. »Another new song, « Time Keeps Changing ”, was mentioned as “ almost finished “.
Acknowledging that the solo album had suffered some bumps, Stipe concluded by telling the New York Times : “ We can say for your article that I have completed the songs and will complete them before the paper comes out. What do you think ? Let the article end with: “I finished the songs”. »
Over the past four years, Stipe has produced new music outside of his solo album, including the single “ Drive to the Ocean ” And ” No Time for Love Like Now », a collaboration with Aaron Dessner of the group The National. However, apart from an appearance on ” Family Ties » by Mykki Blanco in early 2022, Stipe has not released any other new songs.
