There are some amazing rock band members who are putting out solo work while their bands are in between albums. Here are four artists who are dabbling in upcoming solo albums, featuring the singles and snippets they’ve released so far!
Videos by American Songwriter
Matt Helders (of Arctic Monkeys)
Matt Helders, drummer and backing vocalist for English rock band Arctic Monkeys, has been recently teasing new solo work on social media. While he hasn’t officially released or announced anything, he’s been posting videos of himself in the studio alongside snippets of music. Allegedly, he’s doing something wildly different from his stuff with Arctic Monkeys. It sounds like he’s branching out into electronic music instead of his usual work on drums.
Just recently, Helders posted a video on Instagram captioned “No. 3.” This shows him messing around the studio before playing a snippet of unheard music. The departure from what he’s known for is interesting, but it’s also great to see him dabbling with genre and technique.
Luke Spiller (of The Struts)
Luke Spiller, usually of The Struts, is branching out from his rock band and dropping some solo music. His upcoming album, Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine, is due out on April 25.
The recently released singles have been promising, with a more sweeping, orchestral sound than The Struts’ usual offerings. Spiller is often compared to Freddy Mercury in vocal talent and style, and while his solo work is a significant shift from his band, there’s still a dramatic, flamboyant element in the composition that remains.
Matt Berninger (of The National)
Matt Berninger has been the frontman of the rock band The National since their debut in 2001, but he’s currently branching out into solo work again. He released his first solo album, Serpentine Prison, in 2020. His next, Get Sunk, will drop on May 30.
Back in March, he released the single “Bonnet Of Pins”, which features a lighter sound than The National’s usual brooding instrumentation. It also shifts a bit from his previous album’s style. Berninger’s recognizable baritone remains on display, but he’s backed by vocalist Julia Laws, who complements Berninger’s voice well.
Peter Doherty (of The Libertines)
Peter Doherty found 2000s indie success as the co-frontman of the rock band The Libertines. They released their first new album in almost a decade last year, and now Doherty is gearing up to drop a solo project. He released three singles, the most recent being “The Day The Baron Died”.
Doherty is taking a much more toned-down approach compared to his work with The Libertines. His solo work features more acoustic guitar, piano, and violin than the more electric guitar-driven band. So far, this look into his solo endeavor shows us a softer Pete Doherty with renewed creative vigor.
Featured Image by Paul Bergen/Redferns
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