What do you do when you’re the guitarist of the biggest rock band In the world ? Put your feet up on an island, smash a hotel room, unveil a new single and criticise everyone in the world of politics. Well if you’re Chris Shiflett it’s the third one, as today he held an exclusive interview with The NME to debut his new single, This Ol’ World.
Head over to https://t.co/FyDRR1E203 @nme to check out a track from my upcoming record!! Also – UK/EURO tour dates go on sale 3/1. #thisol’world #hardlessons https://t.co/bRaZCPvYzV
— Chris Shiflett (@ChrisShiflett71) February 25, 2019
The new record is the first material heard from Shiflett as part of his new soon to be released album. In the exclusive interview with the NME Shifflet described the new record and his motivations behind the recording of it in great depth. He explained how he “wrote it after the 2016 election when you had left wing populism represented in the Bernie Sanders campaign and right wing populism in the Trump campaign. They’re very two different things, but inspired by the same thing. That same thing is a rot in the system. To me, the powers have under-represented the masses for a long time and it represents itself, depending on your world view, as coming out of the same issues.”
Expanding on this Shiflett expressed how “It’s always a struggle to write songs about current events or politics, but how can you not be affected by what the fuck is happening?,Over here we’ve got Trump and over there in the UK you’ve got Brexit and Farage. It seems like every western country is dealing with its own version of Trumpism and the rejection of the status quo and liberal policies.”
Shit! This song blew my mind when I head it this morning. Thank you @ChrisShiflett71 for writing a song about how I exactly feel about all the political stuff that’s going on right now. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the new record. https://t.co/h2Ktdn2z2h
— GNQ (@gypsyneonqueen) February 25, 2019
Shiflett then described how these feelings led him to recording the record in the way it has been, although specific political events or people are not mentioned, the track has a clear feeling. “In the early drafts of ‘This Ol World’ it just sounded a little too preachy and came off sounding like a pretentious article, I like my lyrics to be specific, but I wanted that one to be quite vague because regardless of your world views, maybe there’s something in there you can relate to.”
In the same interview Shiflett also revealed details about his upcoming new album saying “There’s definitely more rock than my last album. It’s more guitar driven, although that sounds like a funny thing to say when so much of my stuff is guitar driven, But I like exploring sounds that I don’t get to play with. ‘West Coast Town’ from my last record was super pedal steel heavy, and this new one definitely has crunchier guitar tones and it’s more of a rock and roll record.”
I’ve been having the new single on repeat today! It’s soo good!! And you coming to Sweden Chris, it’s the best news I’ve had in a long time. I’ve had a lot to struggle with and this made me Happy Dance again – Thank you
— Emma (@SymphonyOnMute) February 25, 2019
Shiflett also revealed dates for his 10 date European wide tour this March and April, starting in Dublin on the 30th of March and ending in Stockholm on the 10th of April. All tickets go on sale on the 1st of March. Fans will also be able to see him when the Foo Fighters headline Reading and Leeds Festival this summer.
Chris Shiflett European Spring Tour Dates:
30/03/19 – The Grand Social, Dublin
31/03– The Haunt, Brighton
1 /04– Omeara, London
2 /04 – The Fleece, Bristol
4 /04 – Night & Day, Manchester
5 /04 – Classic Grand, Glasgow
6 /04 – La Bell Angle, Edinburgh
8 /04 – John Dee Club, Oslo
9 /04 – Pumphuest, Copenhagen
10/04 – Nalen Klubb, Stockholm
