Veteran English folk-punk, country-rock singer-songwriter, Billy Bragg will release his tenth studio album titled 'The Million Things That Never Happened' this spring (8 October).
A 12-song collection penned during the craziness of the past year or so, the record is a heartfelt paean to human resilience – a theme that's beautifully encapsulated by the album's first single 'I Will Be Your Shield'."To me 'I Will Be Your Shield' is the heart and soul of the album," begins Bragg.
"I've come to the conclusion that empathy is the currency of music – that our job as songwriters is to help people come to terms with their feelings by offering them examples of how others may have dealt with a situation similar to that in which listeners find themselves.
"After what we've all been through, the idea of being a shield: physically, emotionally, psychologically, really resonates."
'The Million Things That Never Happened' was produced by Romeo Stodart and Dave Izumi at Echo Zoo studio in Eastbourne. The album also features a song Bragg co-wrote with his son, Jack Valero – 'Ten Mysterious Photos That Can't Be Explained'.
"It was always my intention to record a new album in 2021. I'd planned to spend most of 2020 on the road, where I could crank out ideas for new songs in soundchecks and maybe even try a few in the live set," Billy says.
"Things didn't quite work out that way, of course. In the past, it has been purely personal issues that have kept me off the road and I've sought to come to terms with those events by writing songs that draw the listener's attention to my individual experience.
"The manner in which this pandemic has unfolded is something we've never faced before – a universal experience that has impinged on all of our lives. When the first lockdown was declared, I filled the space left by cancelled tours with clips and playlists that made me feel connected to my audience.
"When hopes of a return to normal were thwarted by the second lockdown in late 2020, I struggled to find the motivation that had driven my response to the first.
"Looking for something to focus on, I booked some studio time with Romeo Stodart and Dave Izumi, and began pulling songs together for a new album.
"Twice the dates we booked had to be postponed due to pandemic restrictions, but Romeo and Dave carried on working, creating backing tracks based on the demos I'd sent them.
"When we were finally able to get together in April this year, they presented me with a different way of making songs, something I found highly engaging after the lost of momentum brought on by the lockdowns.
"'The Million Things That Never Happened' isn't about the pandemic per se, but the highs and lows of what we've been through provide the backdrop for the album, as they have done for all our lives over these past two years."
'The Million Things That Never Happened' will be released 8 October, 2021. Pre-order it.
Billy Bragg tours Australia January-February 2022.
'The Million Things That Never Happened' tracklisting
1. Should Have Seen It Coming2. Mid-Century Modern
3. Lonesome Ocean
4. Good Days And Bad Days
5. Freedom Doesn't Come For Free
6. Reflections On The Mirth Of Creativity
7. The Million Things That Never Happened
8. The Buck Doesn't Stop Here No More
9. I Believe In You
10. Pass It On
11. I Will Be Your Shield
12. Ten Mysterious Photos That Can't Be Explained
Billy Bragg 2022 Tour Dates
Fri 14 Jan - Freo.Social (Fremantle)Sat 15 Jan - Freo.Social (Fremantle)
Sun 16 Jan - Freo.Social (Fremantle)
Thu 20 Jan - The Gov (Adelaide)
Fri 21 Jan - The Gov (Adelaide)
Sat 22 Jan - The Gov (Adelaide)
Thu 27 Jan - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Fri 28 Jan - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Sat 29 Jan - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Wed 2 Feb - Forum Melbourne
Thu 3 Feb - Forum Melbourne
Fri 4 Feb - Forum Melbourne
Tue 8 Feb - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
Wed 9 Feb - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
Thu 10 Feb - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
