New Stereophonics

Kelly Jones discusses tense but constructive sessions with Arctic’s producer

01 April 2009 - The Stereophonics frontman has co-produced their last two records and admitted starting work with a new member of the team was hard at the beginning.

The Welsh rockers have begun their follow up to 2007's Pull The Pin with Jim Abbiss.

His production credits include the likes of Editors, Kasabian, Jack Penate and Adele in the last few years.

The singer said initial sessions with Abbiss were a little tense, but productive.

“He does mix it up a bit and then the friction begins both ways, because one person has his ideas and the other has others,” he explained. “But then you go away and listen to it a week later and realise there’s something new there.”

Pushing boundaries

Jones said the sessions in which he felt outside of his comfort zone produced results: “Those avenues that we went down which weren’t really comfortable are now quite beneficial, because we’ve found something that we wouldn’t have done before.”

He admitted his new producer has taken it too far on occasion and laughingly said: “We’re quite a big melody band, quite big songs, quite anthemic songs, and then if somebody’s trying to make things too avant-garde and clever, take all the melody away and put all these weird discordant things on it - that drives me mad. That’s not what we’re trying to do at all.”

"Those avenues that we went down which weren’t really comfortable are now quite beneficial."
Kelly Jones

“It takes quite a bit of getting used to every time I work with a new producer,” Jones explained.

However, the singer believes it’s important to shake things up after seventh albums: “It makes me feel like I’m making my first album again because you were very naïve on your first record, and listen to peoples’ opinions on stuff. I guess I’m excited again. It’s important to stir it up.”

More vocals

They've been making demos over the last few months and are heading into the studio soon to start the recording.

As for how the new material is sounding, Jones revealed: “It’s less walls of guitars, it’s much more vocal-based. The songs are big and different tempos and grooves and beats. He [Abbiss]’s quite good with all that sort of stuff.

“It’s just been me and him in the studio with a drum machine, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens when we all get in there together.”

As for a release date he revealed: “We’d like to bring it out next November.”

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Georgie Rogers