Nick Cave has candidly shared his thoughts on the songwriting process, describing it as “a fucking nightmare” in a recent interview with MOJO magazine. Cave, known for his profound and often dark lyrical content, admitted that he finds songwriting to be a challenging and anxiety-inducing task. He elaborated, “I don’t like writing songs. To write a song is this deeply mysterious, abstract, anxiety-ridden process that’s just not fun. Playing around with the kid is fine but to get the kid out is a fucking nightmare. So I put it off until I can’t put it off any further.”
Cave’s reflections come ahead of the release of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ 18th studio album, “Wild God,” set to drop on August 30. The album, which follows the critically acclaimed “Ghosteen,” is expected to explore themes of convention and experimentation, with Cave and his bandmates already having released two singles, “Frogs” and the title track. Cave expressed his hopes for the new album, saying, “I hope the album has the effect on listeners that it’s had on me. It bursts out of the speaker, and I get swept up with it. It’s a complicated record, but it’s also deeply and joyously infectious.”
Reflecting on “Ghosteen,” an album that many believe was inspired by the tragic loss of his son Arthur in 2015, Cave shared that the creation process was painful. “I’m happy that it exists but it was a painful thing to make. I fucking hate hearing bands talk about the pain of making a record, because I don’t believe them. But ‘Ghosteen’ had its attendant agonies for sure, and not something I’d want to repeat,” he said.
Cave’s relationship with songwriting is complex. Despite his extensive discography, he admits that the songs often don’t reveal their true nature to him until they are performed live. “I don’t think the songs have begun to reveal themselves to me until we start playing them live. I was worried about this interview because I was like, ‘Fuck, what is this record even about?’ If I try to explain to you now, I’m going to do a poor job of it because I don’t really know. The songs seem to me to be about a series of conversions – one thing changing into another thing,” he explained.
In preparation for the album’s release, the band has shared part one of “The Making Of Wild God,” featuring Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood. Directed by Megan Cullen and recorded at Miraval Studios in France, the footage offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process behind the new album.
Additionally, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds are set to participate in a Q&A event in London on the eve of the album’s release. Rough Trade will host the exclusive event at Kings Place on August 29, where fans will have the opportunity to listen to the album in full and ask Cave questions directly. Fans can enter a draw for a chance to attend by pre-ordering “Wild God” via Rough Trade before August 15.
Cave also recently announced a 2024 UK and Europe tour, set to kick off in Germany this September and continue through October, with a UK leg in November. Tickets for the tour are available for purchase.
Despite his aversion to the songwriting process, Cave’s work continues to resonate deeply with fans and critics alike. His ability to channel his personal struggles and experiences into his music has resulted in a body of work that is both haunting and beautiful. As he prepares to release “Wild God,” fans eagerly await to see how Cave’s latest creation will unfold.
Source: MOJO, NME
