as the wider economy, largely on pause.
teenager on his first tour of America.
Beyond music, family is clearly a major priority, and he seems pleased at least two of his eight children including daughter Leah have shown real musical ability. He says that ‘they sometimes patronise me,” in a fashion only children can achieve with their parents.
“I was out near the Whisky A Go Go Club in LA and hadn't really walked that area of the city since I was 19. A huge amount of time has elapsed since then, so it's a reflective song about that.“
It’s a consistent theme across a record that places centre stage some of the soul motifs belying his earliest musical influences. As for the album’s title track, On Sunset, he was inspired by catching up with his eldest son in Los Angeles, which holds particularly strong memories for him as a
“I can't believe it's 25 years old, but I still think it's a great record that stands up now. It showed the progress made since that first solo album. It was just a really creative time for me and I've some really fond memories of that period.” As well as his strong attention to sartorial detail as befitting anyone from the mod revival scene, Weller has been noted for his passion for seeking out new music and offering assistance to likeminded acts.
For his own part, he’s recently completed final production work on his latest album, On Sunset, which notably stands as his 15th solo recording. Lead single Earth Beat offers a lush slice of soul pop, which is swiftly followed by Village, which neatly sums up its optimistic spirit that seems refreshingly relaxed amid these complex, challenging times.
autobiographical recording to date, in being named after the street he grew up in Woking, Surrey.
“It also became something else about being in a place in time looking for old friends and lovers and how everyone has moved on,” he says of the album’s core theme that offers a nostalgic glance over his shoulder. It’s been 25 years since Weller released Stanley Road, perhaps his most
He’s still passionate about touring, and says his regular touring band, including Ocean Colour Scene’s Steve Cradock, are ‘chomping at the bit’ to get back out on the road. However, they’re still at the mercy of conditions as to whether their autumn tour will be permitted over coronavirus.
NEW ALBUM RELEASED JULY 3RD on POLYDOR RECORDS
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