Having dropped only a handful of songs in his own name since R.E.M. broke uop amicably in 2011, Michael Stipe is planning an imminent release of his very first solo full length.
Putting the finishing touches to his own LP after several delays, in an interview with The Sunday Times, the iconic rockers frontman said:
“I’m working on a solo album. But it’s taken longer than I wanted.””Covid didn’t help, but I’m finishing it. When the band split, I just needed a break. I took five years but I got pulled back into music. It’s been a struggle.” “That’s the main thing. I want it to be great, but I’ve got the pressure of having been in R.E.M., and it’s a high bar, because I want this to be as good as that, and that’s near impossible.” “So it’s f****** exciting but also terrifying, and I’m doing the music for the first time too, and I think I’m good at it but not great.” “But I love my voice. I don’t like my speaking voice but I love my singing voice, and so I want to immerse myself back into offering music to the world.”
Admitting that his songwriting offers an “escape hatch” for listeners, the 66-year old singer/songwriter added:
“There is always hope in my writing. I am an optimist, ultimately – even if it’s a realisation in one’s last breath that they blew it. At least they are aware they blew it. To move through a life not recognizing one’s mistakes or regrets is pretty sad.”
And grateful that he’s now able to separate his personal life from his music, the Georgia native concluded:
He said: “Well, an ability to separate oneself from one’s work is essential, to step back and not convince yourself you’re brilliant all the time.” “It allows me to not be a raging a*******, egomaniacal crazy person, because I was a pop star with a lot of light for most of my adult life.” “A lot of people don’t emerge intact from that. But I feel quite grounded – I feel quite intact.”
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Author: Al Dente
Photo: Les Zg