R.E.M. broke up in 2011, and more than a decade later, frontman Michael Stipe still hasn't released a solo album. That will change, however, as Stipe has offered an update about the solo debut he's been working on. He's also shared a new song, "Future, If Future," co-produced by Brian Eno.
Speaking with Rick Rubin for the producer's Broken Record podcast, Stipe shed some light on stepping away from music before finding his way back thanks to a Fischerspooner collaboration.
"When R.E.M. finally disbanded, I needed to take a break," Stipe said. "I needed to not think about or look at music for a long time — and it turned out it was five years before I accidentally fell back into it through Fischerspooner. Working with [producer] Andy [LeMaster] on that project [2018's Sir], I realized that he and I had this really good rapport as co-writers, and we started working together. And now we're involving all these other people."
The musician said that he's working with singer-violinist Gaelynn Lea, whose voice "meld[s] together beautifully" with his own.
He added that, while he hasn't played piano since childhood and doesn't know how to play guitar, "I started writing music on synthesizer and really enjoyed the process." He writes in a "trance state," and often can't remember what comes from him and what was written by LeMaster.
Unfortunately, it's still unclear when Stipe intends to release his solo album. He noted that he has no record company setting him deadlines: "I can do whatever I want. There's nothing forcing me to make the choices that I make, other than just wanting to create things that are beautiful and that inspire people in some way." He's evidently in no rush — he shared that when he hits a roadblock with his music, he simply shifts to a different medium, such as photography.
Stipe has released the solo songs "Your Capricious Soul" and "Drive to the Ocean" in the last few years. He shared another new solo track, "Future, If Future," as a fundraiser for environmental charity EarthPercent. It came out rather quietly a couple weeks ago, on Earth Day.
Hear that song below, along with his episode of Broken Record.
Speaking with Rick Rubin for the producer's Broken Record podcast, Stipe shed some light on stepping away from music before finding his way back thanks to a Fischerspooner collaboration.
"When R.E.M. finally disbanded, I needed to take a break," Stipe said. "I needed to not think about or look at music for a long time — and it turned out it was five years before I accidentally fell back into it through Fischerspooner. Working with [producer] Andy [LeMaster] on that project [2018's Sir], I realized that he and I had this really good rapport as co-writers, and we started working together. And now we're involving all these other people."
The musician said that he's working with singer-violinist Gaelynn Lea, whose voice "meld[s] together beautifully" with his own.
He added that, while he hasn't played piano since childhood and doesn't know how to play guitar, "I started writing music on synthesizer and really enjoyed the process." He writes in a "trance state," and often can't remember what comes from him and what was written by LeMaster.
Unfortunately, it's still unclear when Stipe intends to release his solo album. He noted that he has no record company setting him deadlines: "I can do whatever I want. There's nothing forcing me to make the choices that I make, other than just wanting to create things that are beautiful and that inspire people in some way." He's evidently in no rush — he shared that when he hits a roadblock with his music, he simply shifts to a different medium, such as photography.
Stipe has released the solo songs "Your Capricious Soul" and "Drive to the Ocean" in the last few years. He shared another new solo track, "Future, If Future," as a fundraiser for environmental charity EarthPercent. It came out rather quietly a couple weeks ago, on Earth Day.
Hear that song below, along with his episode of Broken Record.