Albert Hammond Jr. considers his latest masterpiece, 'Momentary Masters', an album that anyone can enjoy right away.
“I think people should expect a great record and what makes it unique is that it’s more entertaining then the other ones but at the same time I feel like it has more layers to go through later.”
The album name, ‘Momentary Masters’, was inspired by a speech made by Carl Sagan called the ‘Pale Blue Dot’. Albert says he immediately had a connection with it. “[Pale Blue Dot] is something I listen to a lot; it was going to be the piece that played before I walked out on stage. I’ve even written it behind the CD and in the vinyl, it’s something that I love so much. I really love the idea of being meaningless, you have to create your own meaning.”
'Momentary Masters' opens with a catchy track called 'Born Slippy'. “It took a little bit to pick a sequence for the album… When we were picking the first song my manager Ryan kept on saying that he thought 'Born Slippy' would be a really good first song, I had doubts and he was right!
“I realised, it’s important to let go and let the people who you trust around you help out so you don't spread yourself too thin.”
In terms of a favourite track, Albert explains he has a favourite part of every song. Considering he also practices these tracks over and over, it can be hard to hear them with fresh ears. “I listen to the album a lot, so whenever I attempt to hear it like someone who hasn’t heard the album before, 'Coming To Getcha', 'Drunched In Crumbs' and 'Caught By My Shadow' are the ones that jump out at me.”
Although 'Momentary Masters' is Albert’s latest solo album, it took a lot of teamwork to bring it together. Albert collaborated with Hammarsing Kharhmar (frontman of Mon Khmer; who’s been playing guitar with Hammond Jr. since 2008), guitarist Mikey Hart (Bleachers), bassist Jordan Brooks, and drummer Jeremy Gustin. “[The band members] generate great excitement beforehand, which is one of the biggest triggers. Each of them knows so much and brings so much musically that they were able to show me so many different options to what I was bringing in.
“Without them, I wouldn’t have made what I made. Everyone took everything and made it better and I’m very lucky to have had all the support.”
Albert believes overcoming his drug addiction has had a positive impact on his writing today. He explained, that before he became sober, his charm had been muted by another need. Now with his sobriety in full flight, he believes it has lead to the creation of better music. “You can hear it on my second record. When you’re creating, it takes a lot of work… like a slow chaos… and drugs are fast. So I feel like when you’re doing drugs you lose the want for the slow chaos.”
Music is obviously the main focus for Albert, but a few years back he took a brief step into the fashion world. Working closely with the talented stylist and close friend, Ilaria Urbinati, Albert designed a line of menswear, specifically suits. The suits were used in the popular romantic comedy starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, 'Crazy Stupid Love'. “I didn’t put them in [the movie], someone liked them and put them in because he looked good in them.
“It sounds amazing when you say 'Are you starting a clothing line?' I mean, I would love an empire [laughs]! I would have the friendliest empire ever; it would be like the utopia of empires. But no, unfortunately I am not!”
'Momentary Masters' is out 31 July.
