Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble has shared his new solo single as Virtually Nothing, ‘Instantaneous Love’. Test it out first on NME beneath, as Woomble additionally tells us about his new venture, supporting The Walkmen, and what’s subsequent for the Scottish cult rockers.

After launching his new “genre-fluid” electro-tinged venture underneath his new moniker with the brand new single ‘Something No matter’, now Woomble has shared the elegiac however “constructive” subsequent taster of his subsequent album with ‘Instantaneous Love’.

“It’s not a music that defines the file however is a extremely good indication of what’s to come back,” Woomble advised NME. “It’s bought bits and items of the music that can observe, and lyrically captures what I’m making an attempt to do – which is inject positivity however weave unhappiness via it.

“We intention for positivity. I get pulled away or sidetracked typically by melancholy, even simply in verses. Very often, my work has these fairly anthems and certain choruses, then the verses are fairly introspective and melancholy – take into consideration ‘American English’ or ‘Structure in LA’ from my final solo file. On this file, ‘Instantaneous Love’ could be very very like that. It’s fairly optimistic and has a constructive really feel, however within the verses, I’m speaking about actuality disintegrating and issues like that. Lyrically I’m fairly desirous about that – aiming for one thing, however then on the way in which, you get trapped by one other thought or feeling.”

Woomble continued: “Even the title Virtually Nothing walks the road between constructive and destructive, as do the lyrics and the temper. When the file finishes, you are feeling prefer it was constructive and wasn’t languishing anyplace in fear or unhappiness. It’s a file that makes you are feeling good.”

“It’s a wierd weak point! I’m making an attempt to maintain it actually fairly fundamental but in addition fairly memorable.”

To launch the brand new single, NME caught up with Woomble to speak over his new moniker, being buddies with The Walkmen, ‘90s nostalgia, and a possible future for Idlewild.

Hi there Roddy. What are you able to inform us concerning the determination to return as Virtually Nothing quite than underneath your individual title once more?

Woomble: “Releasing music is all about daring to fail. I’ve by no means been desirous about making an attempt to do the identical factor on a regular basis. Lots of people know me because the singer in Idlewild, and even only for ‘100 Damaged Home windows’ or ‘The Distant Half’. I may assume that function endlessly and simply make these sorts of information, which, every time I strive changing into worse and extra boring. Equally, once I began making solo information, they have been principally acoustic and people. Individuals preferred that, and I may have simply pursued that too. I’m extra desirous about making an attempt issues which may not work.

“Within the lockdown of 2020, I used to be like everybody, simply considering, ‘What comes subsequent?’ I began working with Andrew Wasylyk [one of four producers on the record]  to provide you with concepts remotely. That ended up being [previous 2021 SOLO LP] ‘Lo Soul’, which was put out underneath my very own title, however I believed it ought to have been one thing totally different. I’ve all the time been desirous about these bands of 1 individual, like Cat Energy, Bon Iver and even The Fall. It frees them as much as strive various things. I ought to have actually performed that with Lo Soul.

“It type of bought misplaced a wee bit as a result of when folks see my title, they suppose it’s both going to be Idlewild or acoustic, and it’s actually no. ‘Lo Soul’ was lo-fi and digital. There was a songwriting soul to it, but it surely was experimental in locations. With ‘Virtually Nothing’, it’s persevering with in the identical vein with fundamental beats, however I knew it was going to be one thing new.”

So that you’re very a lot on a brand new slate right here? 

“Once I strategy one thing, I’m not bothered if it really works or not. I’ve bought no expectations if it’s one thing new. It’s like making a debut album the place there’s no actual expectation. I’ve made lots of information, so folks would possibly attempt to evaluate it to lots of different ones, but it surely doesn’t sound like I’m trying one thing inside my attain. That is minimal digital music with my voice and my phrases.

“I’ve bought the file in my arms, and it appears like a brand new band and a brand new venture. It references my previous, however on the identical time, it’s fairly new.”

Did you shock your self with a few of the extra pop-leaning moments on this album, like ‘Returning Shadows’ and ‘Higher You Belong’? 

“I’ve all the time been good at developing with minimal melodies through the years in numerous kinds – whether or not it’s been punk rock, anthem rock, or one thing folkier. I’m good at developing with melodies you bear in mind and unlikely phrases to associate with them. Once I strategy something musically, I by no means fear about it. That’s not the way in which I work. Once I work with a extra disciplined musician like Andrew Mitchell or [Idlewild guitarist] Rod Jones, they’ll take my concept and refine it slightly bit.

“For ‘Higher You Belong’, I used to be working with Scott Patterson. He’s wonderful at developing with beats and concepts. It got here collectively in a short time then he labored on it loads. I wasn’t anxious by it being very catchy and infectious or the beat being one thing that you just would possibly hear on Radio 1. We have been simply making attention-grabbing music collectively.”

Will you be pulling some totally different strikes on stage, then?

“That is what individuals are saying to me! That I ought to be contemplating adapting my stage persona, which is usually me shuffling round, my toes, after which standing on the aspect once I’m not doing something. I’m going to strive one thing new for the tour.”

How are your dance strikes? 

“My dancing is horrible! Nicely, I’m good at ceilidh dancing. I’ve been studying lots of books about this. Whenever you go on stage, you turn out to be a special model of your self. I’m an introverted individual, and I don’t like consideration, so it’s very unusual that I’ve ended up on stage. Significantly now, I like the truth that I’ve bought an alter-ego as Virtually Nothing, so I may do one thing a bit extra unlikely.

“For me, it’s a brand new artistic venture. For the subsequent one, I like the concept of incorporating extra phrases, journals, information, and presumably much more issues. It began off as a writing venture the place I used to be going to make a sequence of quick tales the place nearly nothing occurred in them. I used to be initially a movie scholar and used to jot down scripts. I thought-about making movies the place nearly nothing occurred and soundtracking them myself. These have been pandemic ideas once we have been all sat trying and questioning the place our lives have been going to go.

“It feels prefer it may grow to be one thing actually attention-grabbing, relying on who I collaborate with.”

You’ve bought some help reveals developing with The Walkmen. What are you able to inform us about your relationship with them?

“I’m very enthusiastic about this tour as a result of The Walkmen and I am going means again. I did my first ever Idlewild tour again in ’97 with Jonathan Hearth*Eater, which is the band that grew to become The Walkmen. I liked the band, and we grew to become buddies. I noticed one of many earliest Walkmen reveals at CBGBs in New York, and I’ve all the time liked that aesthetic – literary however fundamental rock’n’roll. What they do with that format of a rock band is simply actually attention-grabbing.

“They toured with Idlewild on ‘The Distant Half’ tour, and so they even saved an upright piano at my flat in London. We’ve been buddies for a very long time. I despatched them the file to hearken to, and so they simply requested if I used to be taking part in any reveals and wished to help them. I’m actually excited to see them play each night time as a result of I haven’t seen them for 15 years. They’re a very magnificent rock band – top-of-the-line of the final 20 years, I feel.

“This isn’t a traditional help tour – The Walkmen are certainly one of my favorite bands and buddies. I’m actually excited that they’re behind my new band and need me to do that. I’m simply trying ahead to taking part in underneath a special format and underneath a brand new title. Having the ability to do one thing contemporary shouldn’t be taken with no consideration.”

It’s typically mentioned that Idlewild have been an missed band. Have you ever felt that not too long ago amidst the latest wave of ‘90s and Britpop nostalgia?

“I feel we’re one of many extra missed bands of that period. Have a look at Muse, Coldplay, Snow Patrol – all of those bands round simply after us and have become massively widespread. We have been all the time on the fringes and type of a cult concern. That all the time suited us. We weren’t stadium materials, and we didn’t play the sport like we have been anticipated to. We simply weren’t prepared for it, and all of it handed us by. One factor is that the information are actually good. Time is all the time the decider on how good a band is, actually. Consider all of the bands you hearken to from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s that basically weren’t that widespread on the time, however their music has had a long life. Idlewild made information that folks will hearken to for a very long time.

“We by no means related ourselves with Britpop in any respect – aside from Blur, who all of us collectively liked, however they weren’t even a Britpop band. I noticed Blur in ’92 supporting Dinosaur Jr and so they appeared extra like a punk band to me, like The Buzzcocks or The Jam. We have been a bit anti-Britpop, nearly. For us, it was all about American underground rock and that’s the type of band that we emulated. I do respect now that it’s a culturally important factor. Era Z appears to be like at it with the nostalgia that we did for the late ‘70s. There are infinite prospects with music, so preserve making them.”

It’s been 4 years since Idlewild’s final album ‘Interview Music’. Have you ever been excited about the subsequent one? 

“I’m not saying different concert events are out of the query. The pandemic actually de-railed the band. ‘Interview Music’ got here out in 2019, the file and tour have been well-received, and we have been all set to enter 2020 and make a file. That simply didn’t occur due to the lockdowns, with everybody dwelling in other places with totally different lives.

“Since then, we’ve bought again collectively to play some rescheduled anniversary reveals, however we’ve not labored on new music collectively for years. I don’t know. Rod Jones runs a recording studio and administration firm for bands, so he’s Mr Enterprise now. I’m unsure the place his thoughts is creatively. On the identical time, it’s such a stunning factor that we made collectively through the years that I don’t suppose we’d ever shut the door on it.”

Virtually Nothing is on the market to pre-order now and will likely be launched digitally on Friday
September 6 earlier than the CD and vinyl launch follows on Friday, October 6 through Assai
Data.

The band will make their debut stay reveals supporting The Walkmen on their UK headline dates this summer season. Try the dates beneath and get tickets right here.

August 21 – Glasgow, Galvanizers Yard SWG3
August 26 – Manchester, New Century Corridor
August 27 – Bristol, SWX
August 29 – London, KOKO
August 30 – London, KOKO
August 31 – London, KOKO