In January, U2 guitarist The Edge revealed during an episode of the Sodajerker on Songwriting podcast that the band expected to release a new song soon. Now, in a new interview that aired on SiriusXM’s U2-X Radio channel, the veteran Irish rocker has shared some tidbits about U2’s plans for its next studio album.
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During the conversation, host Jenny Huston asked The Edge how things were coming together with regard to the band recording its next studio album.
“We’re having a lot of fun,” the guitarist shared. “We’re working together in the studio in various parts of the world with Jacknife Lee [who co-produced U2’s 2017 album Songs of Experience]. We don’t have anything finished yet, so it’s too early to start telling people what it is, but we’re making great progress.”
The Edge also discussed how U2 is poring through the many songs they’ve amassed during the last several years trying to decide what will be included on the album.
“Well, we’re very excited,” he noted. “I mean, with so much material to choose from, we’re sort of choosing the best ideas, best songs. And our problem is narrowing it down, so we’re playing around with some kind of underlying themes that will help us.”
The Edge continued, “Once we’ve got the sort of thematic spine of the lyrics and the ideas, then we can sort of fit the songs into that overarching story. … And we’re at that phase where it’s time to really start going with the certain songs and putting those to one side. Not that they’re not good also, but we want this to be a really cohesive collection.”
The Edge on Recording Tracks with All of the Band Members Together
The Edge also explained that U2’s songs usually really gel when the band members are playing together in the studio.
“[W]e’re very excited about getting in the room together as a band and playing,” he noted. “Sometimes it’s a four piece, sometimes a three piece. We want the recordings to have the band sound, the band chemistry in it, so that’s kind of a focus as well, which is great.”
The 63-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer added, “I mean, our band is kind of limited in some ways, but really has a lot of character, so when we play together and when we’re making music, it just sounds like us. It’s the remarkable thing. No matter where the song started out in terms of, you know, early recordings or demos … when we play together, there’s a certain U2 thing that happens.”
More About What The Edge Revealed in the January Interview
As previously reported, The Edge revealed during his Sodajerker on Songwriting podcast interview, “There might be a new song happening very soon, which you’ll hear about.”
He added that U2 was “in a great place creatively,” and that the band was having a great time “working on a lot of new songs.”
The Edge also noted that U2 was itching to tour again after its 2023-2024 Las Vegas residency the Sphere venue.
“[W]e did the Vegas run, which was fantastic, but we didn’t get to see much of the world,” he said. “And … we’re looking forward to hooking up with our fans where they live, as opposed to them having to come to us.”
About U2’s Most Recent New Music
U2 hasn’t put out a brand-new song since the one-off single “Atomic City” in 2023. That tune was released in conjunction with the launch of the Sphere residency.
U2’s last full album of new original songs was the aforementioned Songs of Experience. The band’s most recent album, Songs of Surrender, was released in 2023. It was a collection of stripped-down updated versions of previously released tunes by the group.
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