Michael Stipe has offered an update on his debut solo album.
The R.E.M lead singer has spoken about his new album with The Times, where he admitted that the whole recording process has "taken longer than I wanted".
Prior to this, Stipe has released a number of solo tracks, including 'I Played A Fool' with Andrew Watt, Travis Barker and Josh Klinghoffer.
“I’m working on a solo album,” he said. “But it’s taken longer than I wanted".
Elaborating on the delays, Stipe continued: “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,” the singer added. “But I love my voice. I don’t like my speaking voice but I love my singing voice, and I so want to immerse myself back into offering music to the world".
Elsewhere, Stipe also revealed that he has eight songs to finish before this album is complete. He did add that he is working to a deadline, hoping that it will be released before the end of the year.
Stipe even joked that the album might be titled, 'Meet THE Michael Stipe'.
Last week, Michael Stipe joined Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy for a live performance of 'The Great Beyond', and 'These Days' in Brooklyn.
This comes after Shannon and Narducy had been previously touring across the US, performing songs from R.E.M's 'Life's Rich Pageant' to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
“It dumbfounds and delights me that we continue our crusade through this astounding catalogue of music from one of Americaʼs most influential and unique bands", Shannon said when announcing this tour.
He added: “Now we find ourselves at a summit, Life’s Rich Pageant, and weʼre all pinching ourselves in disbelief to be so lucky. The most strange and beautiful adventure".
More on this from Nova here.
