Bloc Party’s Anatomy Of A Brief Romance tells the true tale of Kele Okereke’s heartbreak. Here, he explains why candidness was necessary, and what it’s like signing to Korda Marshall’s new label…
INTERVIEW: CHARLOTTE KROL
PHOTO: CHARLIE PRYO
Bloc Party’s new album is the first LP release from Korda Marshall’s venture with Virgin Music Group, Contagious Ltd. How has that experience together been so far?
“We’re early in the process, but I really love Korda. I trust his vision and his choices. It’s working out really great so far. He’s supported Bloc Party and my music for such a long time. He believes in what we do, so it’s been a real pleasure working with him again. I’m excited to see where this is all going.”
Given that Anatomy Of A Brief Romance is your seventh album with Bloc Party – on top of several solo LPs – do you now feel a greater sense of pressure to make each one feel different?
“I’ve never wanted to be an artist who makes the same record – and we haven’t done that. You’re inspired by the things in your life and they inform the process of making records. They’ve all been a reaction to what happened before. It’s the nature of being creative: wanting to explore more things.”
This record contains your most candid lyrics yet and details a real-life breakup. Why did you feel compelled to expose your life through music like that?
“Anatomy… is deeply personal. Everything you hear – all the imagery in the lyrics, all those scenarios – happened and comes from a real, honest place. In the past, I’ve certainly sung about my life, but I don’t think I’ve done it in such a candid way before. It was scary. It’s coupled with the fact that I’m writing a memoir at the moment and there was nowhere else to put any of this stuff. I had to place it somewhere because of what I was living through, because I was really heartbroken and sad for two years.”
How was it working with Trevor Horn as your producer on this album?
“I’ve worked with a lot of different producers over the years, and I have to remember that they’re also investing their time and energy as you bring something into the world. There have been times in the past when there’s been a butting of heads, but it wasn’t like that with Trevor at all. He’s made some magical, phenomenal records over the years. We weren’t really sure how it was going to work, but he was very patient with us. He knew that this record was coming from a very personal place, so he stepped back and let us do what we do. Then, at times, he’d question us and in small moments insert himself. This album was a labour of love and he really allowed us to make it the way we needed to. We also recorded it in his massive house in Belsize Park, which has a basement studio. It was a very cosy kind of experience that happened towards the end of last year.”
You supported Muse on tour in July, and have a European co-headline tour with Interpol this autumn. What’s the response been like to the songs released so far, and how are you feeling about touring again?
“It’s been positive. It’s a narrative album and I want people to listen to it from start to finish to get a sense of the journey. I’m looking forward to performing. At some point, I’d really like to be able to play this record in its entirety because it’s been a tough time, emotionally, and it’s meant a lot to me.”
Lastly, do you hope for chart success with Anatomy…?
“The beauty and joy is in making it. The achievement is getting it done. I’m fully aware of the fanfare when a record comes out, but it’s about after that. Will it stick in people’s minds? Will it move them? That’s what I’m more hopeful for.”
