The weird thing about being a music artist is that you live your life approximately 12 months ahead of your fans. I'm about to wrap my latest album. You're going to hear it in a few months (unless it leaks before then) but I'm already planning the next one. That's what I have to do if you are ever to hear it years from now.
When I was promoting 'Original Pirate Material', my mind was on 'A Grand Don't Come For Free'. By the time I was promoting 'AGDCFF', I was living the weird guilt-ridden indulgence of 'Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living'.
And there's another phenomenon that goes with it all, which is the feeling of shame you hold for your last album. I don't yet hate my last album ('Everything Is Borrowed' - the one you haven't heard yet) but I am starting to come to terms with the one before it ('Hardest Way') which means my disdain for the next is, no doubt, not long coming! That is another story, though.
Is what I've just said really confusing?
Anyway, if you like The Streets you are about to experience the peaceful positive vibes that come after a disturbing work such as the last you heard. But the final Streets album (the fifth one) will be dark and futuristic. This could not be further from the album you're about to hear, but it's what is on my mind at the moment. I feel inspired by the synthesizer exhibition we just visited in Graz after the gig we just done did.
Of course, I'm not supposed to tell you about this dark vision of the future because I'm about to promote my peaceful coming to terms album. I'm told the peaceful one is quite good, although I've heard it so many times that it's just noise to me now. But the really exciting thing for me is the dark Berlin-influenced electronic album that'll come next.
It's weird and it's not your problem, but I just thought I'd say it coz it's the weirdest thing about being a music artist. But, hey, I think I've come to terms with the feelings now that I've "shared".
Confusion over.