Better known for his role as a guitarist in the massive New York band that is ‘The Strokes’, Albert Hammond Jr has shared a new solo track off his upcoming fourth solo album, ‘Francis Trouble’. The record is due for release on March, 9th.
Listen below:
Hammond has said that his new album will be his most personal yet, as ‘Francis Trouble’ refers to the stillborn death of his twin brother Francis. Francis died due to miscarraige, with Hammond continuing to grow in the womb. At the age of 36, Hammond found out that part of his brother ‘also remained in the womb and was born alongside him – but just a fingernail.’
This record is ‘a homage to both the death of his twin and his own birth, as well as the complexities of identity that arise because of their intermingling.’
Speaking about his mindset when composing the album, he said: ‘What the music says may be serious, but as a medium it should not be questioned, analysed or taken too seriously. I think it should be tarted up, made into a character, a parody of itself. The music is the mask the message wears and I, the performer, am the message.
Hammond is set to head on tour. His upcoming tour dates are below.
Hammond will be heading on tour, supporting Franz Ferdinand across a number of dates, as well as performing a headline show at Dingwalls in London.
Check out the dates:
21 February Bristol UK @ O2 Academy*
23 February Cambridge UK @ Corn Exchange*
24 February Brixton UK @ O2 Brixton Academy*
25 February Brighton UK @ Brighton Dome*
27 February Paris France @ Le Point Ephemere*
28 February Amsterdam Netherlands @ Paradiso (Upstairs) *
1 March London UK @ Dingwalls – HEADLINE
*with Franz Ferdinand
