The Modfather is in reflective mood as he unveils his 15th album, On Sunset. learns more
MARION McMULLEN
THE “angry young man” of The Jam seems very much at ease with himself these days. Paul Weller turned 62 in May and says despite all of the many uncertainties at the moment he feels fortunate and contented.
“I don’t really celebrate birthdays, but my daughter shares mine, so it’s very much about her,” says the father-of-eight.
The “Modfather” belongs in that rare category of being an artist who has successfully reinvented himself over the course of more than 40 years. He’s managed to walk the line between classic rock, punk and new wave, through to the 60s soul that inspired the Style Council.
His last recording two years ago, True Meanings, narrowly missed becoming his fifth number one solo album. The coronavirus pandemic saw his UK tour put on hold and instead he has been squirrelling himself away in his Surrey studio, Black Barn, to lay down new material.
“I’ve actually been very focused being at home these past few weeks, doing a lot of writing, as well as some more recording in the studio,” he says.
Beyond music, family is clearly a major priority, and two of his children have shown real musical ability.
“To be honest, these days when I am not working, I am actually home quite a lot with my wife and kids as we’ve been home schooling. I haven’t really been bothered by the lockdown, other than having to queue for food or medicine.”
Paul has just released his 15th solo album, On Sunset, which features early soul influences as well as touches of electronica and orchestral arrangements.
“I wouldn’t say making music has got any harder,” he reveals.
“I think I’m actually enjoying the process and the writing a lot more now than I ever did before in terms of recording.
“I have a great respect and appreciation for it and seeing how the finished songs are,” adds Paul, who co-produced the new album with long-term collaborator Jan ‘Stan’ Kybert, whose long list of credits includes working with the likes of Oasis, The Verve and Massive Attack.
Paul says: “I wanted to do an album that was soulful and also had an electronic edge to it. Most of the songs on it are quite uplifting, and to me it’s a sunshine record.
“With the track Village, like a lot of my songs, there’s a lot of me in there, so there’s a key idea, but then you make it broader to be about other people, you extemporise. So am I contented? Yes I am – I’m fortunate and couldn’t wish for anything.”
The album features appearances from his old friend Mick Talbot from Style Council days, Slade’s Jim Lea playing violin on the very 60s-influenced Equanimity, and several backing vocal tracks from indie outfit The Staves.
As for the title track, Paul says On Sunset was inspired by catching up with his eldest son in Los Angeles, which holds particularly strong memories for him as a teenager on his first tour of America.
“I was out near the Whisky A Go Go Club in LA and hadn’t really walked that area of the city since I was 19. A huge amount of time has elapsed since then, so it’s a reflective song about that. It also became something else about being in a place in time looking for old friends and lovers and how everyone has moved on.”
Connecting with pieces of the past clearly informed his choice of record label, Polydor. He first enjoyed success with them alongside Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler as fresh faces recording with The Jam.
“We approached Polydor as we really liked what they have been doing lately and they have some great acts.
“It’s a very different world there now though,” he reflects.
“It was a little weird this time as everyone was at least 20 years younger than me, whereas when I was there before, it was the other way around and it felt that there were a lot of old men running around telling me what to do!”
Paul is still passionate about touring and says his regular touring band, including Ocean Colour Scene’s Steve Cradock, are ‘chomping at the bit’ to get back on the road. They are waiting to see if an autumn tour can go ahead.
Meanwhile, he says the present musical landscape is a very different one from his youth.
“Where do I start? Well, streaming for one, that has changed everything. Someone told me the other day that a band had a number one with 7,000 sales. But streaming is where it’s at, it’s not something that you can ignore.
“I could have a mini moan about things like that, but I don’t want to sound like a grumpy old git.
“I think the main reason I haven’t liked it is that people are not getting paid out of it, particularly up-andcoming bands, meaning it’s getting hard for them to make a living now.
“I’ve never believed that music should just be free as some people do. So it’s good to see that vinyl is still out there even if it’s not in great numbers... and I’m going to be releasing my album on cassette as well.”
■ Go to paulweller.com for album details.