“How do we get to the other side?“: Sting returns with a new album,” The Bridge “(” The Bridge “), a metaphor for the momentum to step over adversity. In his new work to be released tomorrow, the singer-songwriter evokes the great changes in society that have taken place. ‘have marked these recent years, such as Brexit, the pandemic and populism, without forgetting to send a message of hope.
My new album “The Bridge” will be out November 19.
Pre-order your copy here: https://t.co/GfJk8XjNLMAnd stream the first single, “If It’s Love,” here: https://t.co/Qt27B3Gpbo pic.twitter.com/axr8Ow3KXI
– Sting (@OfficialSting) September 1, 2021
The English musician, citizen of the world, particularly badly lived the decision of the United Kingdom to cut the bridges with Europe. “For me, Brexit is a tragedy. I am sad for my country. We knew it would be a disaster“, he confides to AFP, passing through Paris, in the middle of a series of concerts from Athens to Las Vegas.
He who travels the globe from stage to stage also sees clouds accumulating far beyond the sky of the United Kingdom, with the rise of populist movements. “We live in a very dangerous political climate right now with working classes feeling abandoned by what they call the elites.“.
Whoever is also an actor (we saw him recently in the French film “Kaamelott”) does not taste the tirades of anti-vaccines. “I do not understand this science of objection. I did not hesitate to get vaccinated. I’m old enough to remember those kids on my street who were crippled with polio. And this disease was eradicated thanks to vaccines“.
Isolation, the pandemic, have not directly inspired his new album, which will be released tomorrow, but they find an echo in the themes discussed. “All the people I write about are in a transitional stage, in their relationships, between life and death, between sickness and full health.“.”We’re all looking for that bridge to go somewhere else, to a better place“.
A bridge is also creating links. Even if, in his pieces, the gateways can be tricky in a sentimental story. “I always avoid writing love songs that say “I love you and you love me too“, because we are going in circles. While”i love you but you love someone else“, it is an interesting scenario for an authorIllustration with his first title “If It’s Love”, already available since October.
“At my age I have experienced the full spectrum of emotions, from the greatest happiness to the deepest unhappiness, so when I write about love I know I can be genuine“, continues this musician with 100 million albums sold.
A bridge is also what can link generations. Among his six children, five followed the artistic path like him, with two actors, two musicians and a director. But the last one wants to become “a cop“, said in French with a smile the former leader of the Police.”He says “you are all creative, I want to be useful”“, he laughs.
A bridge is also a musical term (melodic transition), an art mastered by someone who, as in “The Bridge”, smoothly varies the colorings of jazz, rock or folk. And music question, was not it too hard to record this new opus in full confinement with musicians sometimes playing by interposed screen?
“It’s not so new to record remotely. Often the drummer can be in Los Angeles, I can be in Paris, another in Italy. The secret is to establish despite everything a kind of intimacy, to have warm bonds between musicians, that we can hear“.
But now, it’s time for concerts with a very present audience. “I have to fulfill all my commitments postponed by the health crisis, it may take 18 months, but it’s my life, I’ve been on the road since 1976!“. He will therefore still cross many bridges.