Grunge legends Pearl Jam are collaborating with Andrew Watt on their next album.
Watt is a producer, guitarist and songwriter who has worked with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder on his upcoming solo album Earthlings. He’s perhaps best known however for his work with pop superstar Justin Bieber. He was a major collaborator on Bieber’s most recent album, Justice.
In recent years Watt has worked alongside Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Dua Lipa, Post Malone and Sam Smith. He’s no stranger to the rock world though, having produced Ozzy Osbourne’s Ordinary Man.
At last year’s Grammy Awards, Watt took home the prize for Non-Classical Producer of the Year.
“We’ll make a record with Andrew, I believe,” Vedder revealed. “We’ve already talked about it. You know, the pandemic came right as we were leaving for a tour on the ‘Gigaton’ record. And we had a lot of shows planned. Then, in between, I think we’ll be recording, because now we’ve got a healthy ambition to do so. I think we’ll move quick for a year or two, then I can see us slowing down for a little bit. We have the ability to play better than ever, but also know what we want to maintain the health of the group and want to keep coming back.”
Watt recently admitted that he’s a Pearl Jam fan.
“I was born in 1990 and my brother was born in ’85, so all we listened to growing up was Pearl Jam and the Chili Peppers,” he said. “If I admitted to you how many Pearl Jam concerts I’ve been to, it probably wouldn’t be good for anything. But I used to go to Pearl Jam concerts with a sign that said, ‘Let me play the guitar solo to ‘Alive’,’ and I found myself onstage at the Ohana Festival playing the guitar solo to ‘Alive’ with Pearl Jam.
“So (working with Vedder) was just an actual full-circle, unbelievable moment that I feel like I’ve been ready for my whole life,” he added. “It’s not supposed to happen like that – you’re not supposed to have those posters on your wall and be in the position where you’re creating with those people.”
Vedder’s latest solo album Earthlings is released on February 11th. The album sees him collaborate with guests including Ringo Starr, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and their former guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. It also features a posthumous appearance by Vedder’s father, who passed away when he was 13.
“I thought of the record like a setlist – by the end, that’s when you start bringing out special guests. We had Stevie and Elton, Ringo was an incredible addition … and then my pop gets to be on a record with those guys, which is not too shabby,” Vedder said.
