Indie icon Carl Barat has spoken to ClashMusic about working on his first solo album.
After leading The Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things, Carl Barat has become one of the most notable songwriters of his generation. Rejecting indie stardom, the singer’s debut solo effort is a remarkably introspective affair.
Composed on a piano last year, the new album features Carl Barat dwelling on previous groups and old flames. “I guess I never did write a break-up album,” he said, “but the stories of being in bands and being in love… I guess it is, I suppose.”
The album completes a remarkable year for the singer, who has also made his West End debut and completed his autobiography. Turning solo, Carl Barat split Dirty Pretty Things after just two albums.
“I just had too much selfish stuff to deal with in music and life,” he said. I just found that being in a band was distracting and potentially compromising of that… It was basically restrictive to what could be played instrument-wise.”
Continuing, Carl Barat explained that he felt he had become trapped in his role of an indie tunesmith. “I guess I have learned to grow more as a musician and a person,” the singer reflected.
“I think I kind of got stuck in indie-stasis for a while, and of course that became something of a warm comfort zone, but it was something that I had to break out of.”
The singer has a constant urge to create, with Carl Barat explaining that he finds this a very natural part of his life. “If I could be happy and not create things then that would be lovely, but I don’t think I can see that happening” he said.
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