Music Critic Rhiannon chats to Miles Kane about his inspirations, his upcoming tour, and his collaboration with Grammy-nominated singer and lifelong friend Corinne Bailey Rae
Following the release of his new album Change the Show, Redbrick interviews Miles Kane about his inspirations, his upcoming tour, and his collaboration with Grammy-nominated singer and lifelong friend Corinne Bailey Rae. With a charmingly authentic sound, the album incorporates classic rock and glam influences, but with an infusion of old Motown soul.
Rhiannon: What were your initial ideas about the trajectory of the album and did this change in the process of recording?
I’ve always had this thing that has drawn me to Northern Soul, or Motown-style songs
Miles Kane: I had a rough idea, visually and sonically, of the style of the album that I wanted. The last album was kind of glam rock-y and more aggressive and I was writing tunes in that vein and even maybe heavier. I’ve always had this thing that has drawn me to Northern Soul, or Motown-style songs – it’s kind of the music I listen to a lot, when I’m in the house or going out – and there was a couple of songs written in that vein and they just seemed the ones that were speaking to me the most. It felt exciting and something a bit different and that felt like the route to go down.
I love all those old Motown tunes. That was kind of the blueprint in a way.
Rhiannon: I’ve seen Change the Show described as ‘returning to your roots.’ Is this how you would describe the album or is there any other way you’d describe it?
You hear so many different things… every album … it all comes from the same place. It’s whatever my mindset is, or whatever I’m into at that time. They’re like a little postcard of where you are with your life in terms of lyrically and stylistically, or the way you look… it’s always changing to be honest, it’s like a bookmark of that part of my life.
Rhiannon: So you are kind of just going with the flow, see where it takes you?
Yeah, I try to. I get stressed – it sounds like I’m really free and easy-going, but let’s keep it at that.
Rhiannon: What are you most proud of about Change the Show?
It’s an album of mine that is complete stylistically
Miles Kane: I think the lyrics and the album as a whole. It’s an album of mine that is complete stylistically, it’s got its own little world and I’m really happy with that. I think the way that it starts, the slow tune, the way it builds… I really stuck to my guns on it and I’m happy with that.
Rhiannon: Tell me about your duet with Corinne, ‘Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be Good Enough’: what inspired the song and how did the collaboration come about?
Me and her are old mates, we’ve known each other for over ten years. When my first album came out we were hanging out with each other, she did some singing on that album and we rekindled our friendship a few years ago and started sending each other demos. She’s always said we should try and write a tune together and do a duet. So, this idea was knocking about for ‘Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be Good Enough’ and she loved it and we made it into a duet.
Rhiannon: And can you see yourself collaborating with her again in the future?
100%, you know I love duets and I think definitely when you have a bit of chemistry with someone, I think it really helps… to feed off each other.
Rhiannon: What excites you most about your tour? Can we expect any surprises?
I just want this to be the best gig people go to this year
We start rehearsals this week, I’ve got all these songs that I am so excited to play. I just wanna play all the upbeat songs and have it really pumping. That with all the old tunes, I think the setlist is… for me, I just want this to be the best gig people go to this year, and it be exciting and fun… we’re all in this together.
Rhiannon: Where do you see yourself and your music in the next few years?
I do have a vision… maybe I want to go and make an album in Liverpool for my next one. Kind of want to make a real in-your-face album that I’m working on. I have got a vision, its slightly blurry, but there’s some bits that are coming in that I think will be quite exciting.
Rhiannon: What’s next for the Last Shadow Puppets? Will you go on tour again?
There’s no plans at the minute because we are doing our thing and we’ve been doing our things but whenever we get together we always talk about it. But I think one day we’d love to do it again… I think it would be nice to do another loop of it all. It just depends on the song, if we enjoy writing tunes together or it seems good fun, feels right, that’ll lead the way, you know.
Miles Kane’s tour begins in Europe but has a number of dates throughout the UK in May, including Birmingham’s O2 Institute on 24 May.
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