Rival Sons vocalist Jay Buchanan has been talking about where the band’s next album might be headed, and it sounds like a rawer, more stripped-back direction could be on the table.
Speaking with the U.K.’s The Sound Lab (transcribed by Blabbermouth), Buchanan acknowledged that some material is already written, but made clear the studio environment will shape where things land: “Yes, I have. And some music has been written, songs have been written. But I think that once we get in there, seeing the type of energy that the music takes on and the songs take on, I think that getting everyone together in the same room and kind of hashing it out, I think, is going to be — that’s really gonna dictate.
“Because the songs are one thing, but also the energy of the band, and when we become greater than the sum of its parts when we’re together, again, at its best,’ he added. “I think that letting that spirit and letting that energy be and do what it needs to do, I think that’s very important. So we’ll see that when we get into the studio. And we’ll do some writing in the studio as well.”
He also addressed the contrast with their last two releases, pointing toward a possible course correction: “In some ways, with the last two records that we put out, [2023’s] Darkfighter and Lightbringer, creatively they were a real stretch. And I’m very proud of those records, because we made some music that doesn’t sound remotely like anybody else. But I think at the same time, I think maybe we might be looking at a little bit of a return to form, like bring it back to a small club sound, a sweaty, small stage, sort of a high-energy sound. So I know I’m definitely gonna be looking to do that on at least a number of songs. But we’ll see about the entire collection. That remains to be seen.”
Back in March, Buchanan — who put out his debut solo album Weapons Of Beauty in February — was asked by SPIN Presents Lipps Service With Scott Lipps whether the next Rival Sons record would go heavier after his quieter solo detour. Jay was direct about it.
“That’s a fair question, because I’ve thought that same thing. I don’t have to just live within the — whatever one ballad we’re gonna have on this next record or whatever. I have a renewed sense of duty in so many ways. I don’t have anything to prove. I wanna have fun with my friends. And it’s crossed my mind many times — I just wanna make a fucking black T-shirt record. That’s it. Something really, really rough, really unrefined, and as close to the bone as possible.
“[Something like The Black Crowes‘ second album, 1992’s] [The] Southern [Harmony And Musical] Companion, like these ones where it’s, like, it’s so raw, it’s almost like toothache raw. Like, ‘Oh.’ I think I would like to do something like that. But at the same time, Scott [Holiday, Rival Sons guitarist] and I — it’s a collaboration. So once we put things together, it’s gonna be that way.”
The post JAY BUCHANAN On RIVAL SONS’ Next Album: “We Want To Bring Back A Small Club Sound, A Sweaty, Small Stage, Sort Of A High-Energy Sound”” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.
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