London UK, March 22nd, 2024 - Today, beloved indie-pop renegades Gossip release their first album in over a decade, 'Real Power' alongside new single 'Give It Up For Love', via Sony Music Entertainment.
Back at their very best, the 'Real Power' album marks a reunion with legendary producer Rick Rubin, who helmed the band's pivotal 2009 album Music For Men. Gossip recently set the stage for the album with the release of new music for the first time in 11 years: from the Black Lives Matter protests-inspired rebel rousing anthem “Real Power” to the blissfully tender classic “Crazy Again” , the first singles from the project have received critical acclaim from around the world; catapulting the band back to the top of radio playlists, festival line ups and back onto the covers of magazines.
At the coaxing of Rubin, the band started recording 'Real Power' in 2019 at his home studio in Kauai, Hawaii. The album is an 11-track celebration of creative expression and the power of chosen family in the aftermath of collective and personal trauma. Characteristically Gossip, not only is there a mix of sonic textures and genres from propulsive rock to jubilant disco, there’s also a mix of heady emotions encompassing the full range of the human experience.
'We all experienced a lot of deep loss, and we each turned 40 since we last recorded together,' says Ditto, 'Those are such big moments in your lives.' Since the band were last together, Ditto and Billie each got divorced, there were losses of close friends and family, and the world went through a pandemic. Working with Rubin again gave the band space and support to reconnect and create. 'Rick is pure about his creativity. He's not interested in fads or a label's opinions. He’s a cheerleader- he tries to pull the best out of us. He has this ability to make an artist be their best when he’s working with them, because he works with people he believes in.' Says Howdeshell.
Marking a pivotal new creative chapter for the band, all the videos and artwork for Real Power have been directed by revered audio-visual artist Cody Critcheloe aka SSION, who perfectly captivates the raw, real, visceral essence of Gossip when crafting the album.
Following a triumphant headline set at BBC 6 Music festival on the 8th March, which saw a surprise on-stage collaboration with Alison Moyet, Gossip will embark on a full UK/EU tour (dates below), and this year's summer is packed with festival appearances.
Gossip's ground-breaking legacy is at the forefront once again and marks the perfect moment for these straight-talking, rebel rousing icons to reunite at a time when the political, cultural, gender and sexuality issues that fired and inspired Gossip's anthems are so much a part of the zeitgeist. The trio's blistering brand of soulful swagger brought queer politics to the mainstream, confronted body politics head on, and singularly refused to be pigeonholed or ignored - landing magazine covers around the world and soundtracking primetime TV. Always ahead of their time, they garner huge critical acclaim and continue to uphold their reputation as one of the most exciting and relevant must-see live bands.
A multi-Platinum selling band, Gossip have sold over 10 million records worldwide and are one of Indie Rock's most exciting acts from the early 21st century. The band's 2016 breakout studio album, Standing In The Way Of Control, reached #1 on UK Indie chart (certified Gold) and solidified the band as a dynamic force in the music scene. “Standing In The Way Of Control,” the album’s battle-cry title track, is a queer anthem written in response to U.S. government’s proposition to define marriage and exclude homosexuals.
Frontwoman Beth Ditto remains a global icon and bonafide music, fashion, feminist & LGBTQ+ trailblazer. Embedded into the fashion world, Beth has just featured in new covers shoots with Tim Walker & David Bailey. From performances and walking the runway for the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier, Fendi, Cartier, Gucci, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs, Versace & Alexander Wang, she has also collaborated with Calvin Klein (global underwear campaign alongside Bella Hadid & Naomi Cambell), Jean Paul Gaultier for her own collection, Marc Jacobs on an exclusive T, Beth has also launched her own MAC makeup range.
Full upcoming tour dates here:
Real Power Track Listing
01 Act Of God
02 Real Power
03 Don't Be Afraid
04 Crazy Again
05 Edge Of The Sun
06 Give It Up For Love
07 Turn The Card
08 Tell Me Something
09 Light It Up
10 Tough
11 Peace and Quiet
No comments:
Post a Comment