1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:11,693 Speaker 1: from News Talks a'b. 3 00:00:13,213 --> 00:00:17,973 Speaker 2: This is David Gray. The song was called Fighting Talk. 4 00:00:18,133 --> 00:00:20,573 Speaker 2: It's from his new album that was out on Friday, 5 00:00:20,653 --> 00:00:23,493 Speaker 2: called Dear Life, and I'm drawed up by the fabulous. 6 00:00:23,573 --> 00:00:26,653 Speaker 2: It's still closer to have a chat about the album. 7 00:00:26,853 --> 00:00:28,373 Speaker 2: How are you? Was still happy New Year? 8 00:00:28,453 --> 00:00:31,733 Speaker 3: Yeah, Happy New Year to you. Francesca. Here we are 9 00:00:31,813 --> 00:00:34,613 Speaker 3: back in the mix and listening to some great shows, yes. 10 00:00:34,613 --> 00:00:36,973 Speaker 2: And some good music out. I'm hearing you. 11 00:00:37,333 --> 00:00:37,533 Speaker 3: Look. 12 00:00:37,533 --> 00:00:39,453 Speaker 2: I had a quick look and this seems to be 13 00:00:39,493 --> 00:00:41,853 Speaker 2: people are liking this album. It's his first since twenty 14 00:00:41,853 --> 00:00:42,253 Speaker 2: twenty one. 15 00:00:42,413 --> 00:00:45,253 Speaker 3: Ah, yeah it is. And I like to be honest, 16 00:00:45,293 --> 00:00:47,613 Speaker 3: I haven't always stayed with David Gray. Ither of both 17 00:00:47,693 --> 00:00:49,813 Speaker 3: people who yeah, yeah, yeah, Like you know that big 18 00:00:49,853 --> 00:00:52,573 Speaker 3: album in the early two thousands, and it had babbled 19 00:00:52,573 --> 00:00:54,373 Speaker 3: on on it. You know, everyone was sort of taken 20 00:00:54,413 --> 00:00:57,573 Speaker 3: away with what he was doing then, and there's kind 21 00:00:57,613 --> 00:00:59,053 Speaker 3: of been all the in between stuff, and I'm sure 22 00:00:59,053 --> 00:01:01,013 Speaker 3: there's been some great releases, but this is the album 23 00:01:01,013 --> 00:01:04,413 Speaker 3: that I think probably it's quite in respect to what 24 00:01:04,453 --> 00:01:07,093 Speaker 3: he's doing with his voice and his music, quite similar 25 00:01:07,133 --> 00:01:10,613 Speaker 3: to the the album that I think got everybody kind 26 00:01:10,613 --> 00:01:12,973 Speaker 3: of on board with him suddenly enough. Actually the album 27 00:01:13,133 --> 00:01:15,333 Speaker 3: is I'm trying to think what it's called White Letter. 28 00:01:15,413 --> 00:01:17,453 Speaker 3: There we go, Yes, and the Net didn't have had 29 00:01:17,453 --> 00:01:19,533 Speaker 3: the chart, so like three years later. 30 00:01:19,773 --> 00:01:23,053 Speaker 2: It was That's amazing released in nineteen ninety eight. But 31 00:01:23,093 --> 00:01:24,653 Speaker 2: I think, like you, we think of it as a 32 00:01:24,693 --> 00:01:26,933 Speaker 2: sort of an early two thousands album and then it 33 00:01:27,013 --> 00:01:28,653 Speaker 2: just stuck around for. 34 00:01:28,933 --> 00:01:31,373 Speaker 3: Birocket and yeah, he re released it, and I think 35 00:01:31,373 --> 00:01:33,893 Speaker 3: this had a different label that pushed it differently. That 36 00:01:34,013 --> 00:01:37,573 Speaker 3: song there you had fighting talk, the backing vocals and harmonies, 37 00:01:37,573 --> 00:01:41,933 Speaker 3: that's his daughter Florence, I think, is yeah really cool, 38 00:01:41,933 --> 00:01:43,973 Speaker 3: Like he's really opening up his scope of what he's 39 00:01:43,973 --> 00:01:46,453 Speaker 3: doing with his music. I think that his producer is 40 00:01:46,493 --> 00:01:48,693 Speaker 3: really good at saying, hey, let's add some other layers, 41 00:01:48,733 --> 00:01:51,573 Speaker 3: let's add some other people. There's another really great song 42 00:01:51,613 --> 00:01:54,653 Speaker 3: on here that he teams up with Tarlie Ray plus 43 00:01:54,693 --> 00:01:57,453 Speaker 3: and minus that I think you'll play really soon. And 44 00:01:57,613 --> 00:02:00,533 Speaker 3: her voice like so she's an upcoming UK artist that 45 00:02:00,573 --> 00:02:02,933 Speaker 3: he's sort of got in touch with and she's added 46 00:02:02,933 --> 00:02:06,173 Speaker 3: her vocals and it just makes it quite fresh, you know. 47 00:02:06,413 --> 00:02:08,773 Speaker 3: Yea like their voices blean together really well, and then 48 00:02:08,813 --> 00:02:10,613 Speaker 3: she sort of does a little bit of the bridge 49 00:02:10,613 --> 00:02:14,293 Speaker 3: and chorus herself. But there's just something about adding some 50 00:02:14,333 --> 00:02:17,013 Speaker 3: of those younger voices and younger artists that just I 51 00:02:17,053 --> 00:02:19,453 Speaker 3: guess pushes those artistsho have been doing it for a 52 00:02:19,493 --> 00:02:22,493 Speaker 3: while to try some stuff out, but again also just 53 00:02:22,613 --> 00:02:25,013 Speaker 3: some new beautiful ways to showcase people, which I think 54 00:02:25,093 --> 00:02:25,373 Speaker 3: is great. 55 00:02:25,453 --> 00:02:27,533 Speaker 2: I'm a little bit like you, to be honest with you, 56 00:02:27,653 --> 00:02:29,653 Speaker 2: When I heard this was the first album since twenty 57 00:02:29,653 --> 00:02:31,693 Speaker 2: twenty one, my first thought was, Oh, did you release 58 00:02:31,733 --> 00:02:33,333 Speaker 2: an album in twenty twenty one? I thought it was 59 00:02:33,333 --> 00:02:36,373 Speaker 2: a little lotter for that, to be honest, No, I. 60 00:02:36,213 --> 00:02:38,533 Speaker 3: Thought it was weird too, because he did release an album, 61 00:02:38,533 --> 00:02:41,453 Speaker 3: but he was actually rehearsing for the White Letter twentieth 62 00:02:41,453 --> 00:02:45,293 Speaker 3: anniversary tour, and then of course the lockdowns happened. So 63 00:02:45,373 --> 00:02:47,293 Speaker 3: I think I got swallowed up, you know, like a 64 00:02:47,333 --> 00:02:49,973 Speaker 3: few musicians will say that anything they were releasing around 65 00:02:49,973 --> 00:02:52,053 Speaker 3: that kind of time, as people were coming out of 66 00:02:52,053 --> 00:02:54,453 Speaker 3: lockdowns or going in it did sort of get a 67 00:02:54,493 --> 00:02:57,213 Speaker 3: little bit lost and murky, And I think what's ended 68 00:02:57,293 --> 00:02:59,013 Speaker 3: up happening is he's kind of gone back to his 69 00:02:59,093 --> 00:03:02,893 Speaker 3: original routs and where he's come from from songwriting and 70 00:03:02,973 --> 00:03:05,373 Speaker 3: sort of parts of that one and move forward with 71 00:03:05,453 --> 00:03:06,373 Speaker 3: what he's got going on now. 72 00:03:07,173 --> 00:03:11,813 Speaker 2: But you know, yeah, so I read that he sort 73 00:03:11,853 --> 00:03:16,613 Speaker 2: of when he was practicing for that twenty year anniversary tour. Yeah, 74 00:03:16,693 --> 00:03:19,773 Speaker 2: the White Latter album kind of was the inspiration for 75 00:03:19,893 --> 00:03:23,133 Speaker 2: this album. So is it Is it musically the inspiration 76 00:03:23,333 --> 00:03:25,573 Speaker 2: or was it lyrically? Because I hear that he sort 77 00:03:25,573 --> 00:03:28,533 Speaker 2: of mentioned that this is an album of emotional crisis 78 00:03:28,533 --> 00:03:29,213 Speaker 2: and resolution. 79 00:03:29,333 --> 00:03:32,293 Speaker 3: Yes, so was Oh my god, was it more. 80 00:03:32,253 --> 00:03:34,653 Speaker 2: Sort of the Was it more sort of the emotional 81 00:03:34,773 --> 00:03:38,253 Speaker 2: lyrical tone of White Latter that inspired him the all 82 00:03:38,253 --> 00:03:38,813 Speaker 2: the music? 83 00:03:39,533 --> 00:03:41,533 Speaker 3: I think it was the music. I think going back 84 00:03:41,573 --> 00:03:43,773 Speaker 3: to that thing that he does where he's quite poetic 85 00:03:43,813 --> 00:03:46,653 Speaker 3: in his writing of lyrics, but he's also really good 86 00:03:46,653 --> 00:03:49,173 Speaker 3: at just sitting with a melody and finding those catchy 87 00:03:49,213 --> 00:03:51,653 Speaker 3: hooks that go with it. So I think that's a 88 00:03:51,733 --> 00:03:53,213 Speaker 3: bit And that's why I say, going back to kind 89 00:03:53,253 --> 00:03:55,733 Speaker 3: of basics. Although White Letter was like this third or 90 00:03:55,773 --> 00:03:58,733 Speaker 3: fourth album or something, it's the one that really resonated 91 00:03:58,773 --> 00:04:01,853 Speaker 3: with people and sometimes you just have to show. I 92 00:04:01,893 --> 00:04:03,693 Speaker 3: guess maybe he wrote more songs with just him and 93 00:04:03,693 --> 00:04:05,173 Speaker 3: a guitar or him in a piano, and then he 94 00:04:05,213 --> 00:04:07,813 Speaker 3: put the layers on after. So I think that's kind 95 00:04:07,813 --> 00:04:11,213 Speaker 3: of where it's at. Actually the plus and minor single 96 00:04:11,253 --> 00:04:12,933 Speaker 3: that you'll play soon, And I'm pretty sure that's also 97 00:04:12,973 --> 00:04:15,453 Speaker 3: a song he said he's actually been working on for 98 00:04:15,493 --> 00:04:18,453 Speaker 3: a couple of decades, but it never hits like he 99 00:04:18,573 --> 00:04:22,213 Speaker 3: just couldn't find what the end bit was or what 100 00:04:22,253 --> 00:04:24,333 Speaker 3: the specialness of it was. And so I think bringing 101 00:04:24,333 --> 00:04:27,453 Speaker 3: in that other vocalist, changing up as producer to give 102 00:04:27,493 --> 00:04:29,533 Speaker 3: it a little bit of a new sound, finally he's like, okay, 103 00:04:30,253 --> 00:04:32,253 Speaker 3: perhaps trying to write something too emotional that he hadn't 104 00:04:32,253 --> 00:04:34,853 Speaker 3: actually experienced yet twenty years later. 105 00:04:34,933 --> 00:04:36,573 Speaker 2: So it's a little bit like if you're a little 106 00:04:36,613 --> 00:04:38,173 Speaker 2: bit like me and you know there's been a bit 107 00:04:38,213 --> 00:04:40,013 Speaker 2: of a gap in your David Gray, but you remember 108 00:04:40,093 --> 00:04:41,933 Speaker 2: that White Lady, you know, that album that paved the 109 00:04:41,933 --> 00:04:44,653 Speaker 2: way for you Ed Shearan's Adele's, James Blunt and everything 110 00:04:44,693 --> 00:04:47,933 Speaker 2: like that, And this is potentially a really nice album 111 00:04:48,013 --> 00:04:49,573 Speaker 2: to kind of come back to. 112 00:04:49,653 --> 00:04:52,213 Speaker 3: David Gray on, Yeah, I think it is, and it's 113 00:04:52,253 --> 00:04:55,293 Speaker 3: really great. He's got some beautiful piano intros and some 114 00:04:55,333 --> 00:04:58,733 Speaker 3: real acoustic guitar stuff, which was quite a lot Babylon 115 00:04:58,773 --> 00:05:00,013 Speaker 3: and all those kind of songs and a lot of 116 00:05:00,013 --> 00:05:02,413 Speaker 3: that sort of stuff. But then there's some really big 117 00:05:02,453 --> 00:05:07,413 Speaker 3: production where there's a full brass section. It feels very musiciany, 118 00:05:08,653 --> 00:05:10,693 Speaker 3: but like one that would be amazing to tour. So 119 00:05:10,693 --> 00:05:12,613 Speaker 3: I think it will feel like if you haven't had 120 00:05:12,693 --> 00:05:15,653 Speaker 3: much of the in between stuff, you haven't missed this, 121 00:05:15,893 --> 00:05:17,893 Speaker 3: you know, you'll understand where he's at with this album. 122 00:05:18,133 --> 00:05:19,773 Speaker 3: And I really like that. I think it's also one 123 00:05:19,773 --> 00:05:22,333 Speaker 3: of those albums perhaps I like it too, and I 124 00:05:22,373 --> 00:05:23,733 Speaker 3: think you will as well, for the fact that you 125 00:05:23,773 --> 00:05:25,213 Speaker 3: kind of have to re listen to it a few 126 00:05:25,253 --> 00:05:28,813 Speaker 3: times to get, you know, some of that poetic meaning 127 00:05:28,853 --> 00:05:31,573 Speaker 3: and some of what he's actually talking about on the 128 00:05:31,653 --> 00:05:33,573 Speaker 3: journeys and the songs, and some of them are a 129 00:05:33,613 --> 00:05:36,533 Speaker 3: little bit slow and you know, quite melancholy, and then 130 00:05:36,573 --> 00:05:38,413 Speaker 3: there's the ones that feel like he's put an upbeat 131 00:05:38,453 --> 00:05:41,173 Speaker 3: groove even if they are commenting on something quite big 132 00:05:41,213 --> 00:05:43,933 Speaker 3: that's happened in life. And so I just think that 133 00:05:43,933 --> 00:05:46,293 Speaker 3: that kind of stuff is sort of what captures people 134 00:05:46,893 --> 00:05:50,053 Speaker 3: and makes you enjoy it. There's some really real edgy, 135 00:05:50,133 --> 00:05:52,933 Speaker 3: cool minor chord changes that he makes midway in a song, 136 00:05:53,173 --> 00:05:54,613 Speaker 3: and that always gives me a bit of ghost bumps 137 00:05:54,653 --> 00:05:59,533 Speaker 3: when I hear. You're like, oh, it's so nice, and 138 00:05:59,613 --> 00:06:01,133 Speaker 3: you just want to listen to it over and over again. 139 00:06:01,213 --> 00:06:04,373 Speaker 3: So there's lots of those reasons to keep revisiting. And 140 00:06:04,453 --> 00:06:06,773 Speaker 3: then at the very end of the album, I can't 141 00:06:06,773 --> 00:06:10,053 Speaker 3: think what it's called the First Stone. I think it's 142 00:06:10,093 --> 00:06:13,453 Speaker 3: a real sleepy ambient number to finish off the album, 143 00:06:13,453 --> 00:06:14,893 Speaker 3: and it's one of those ones if you just need 144 00:06:14,933 --> 00:06:17,733 Speaker 3: to chill out, take a step back and a breath, 145 00:06:18,413 --> 00:06:20,493 Speaker 3: like that's the kind of Yeah, it's just a real 146 00:06:20,573 --> 00:06:22,933 Speaker 3: beautifully produced song. So that's a really good listen which 147 00:06:23,133 --> 00:06:24,373 Speaker 3: it's kind of it's just thing to sort of have 148 00:06:24,413 --> 00:06:27,613 Speaker 3: a dreamy end to an album. But you know, I 149 00:06:27,613 --> 00:06:29,533 Speaker 3: think he can kind of get away with it. There's 150 00:06:29,533 --> 00:06:31,133 Speaker 3: something really magic and beautiful about it. 151 00:06:31,533 --> 00:06:34,133 Speaker 2: So even though we have been looking back and comparing 152 00:06:34,173 --> 00:06:37,893 Speaker 2: it to White Leather in that album's impact on this 153 00:06:38,013 --> 00:06:42,573 Speaker 2: particular album, it still sounds current. It's is he does 154 00:06:42,613 --> 00:06:45,373 Speaker 2: it still sound sort of a little bit unique to 155 00:06:45,453 --> 00:06:46,533 Speaker 2: David Gray. 156 00:06:46,813 --> 00:06:48,733 Speaker 3: I think it does, and I think because his voice 157 00:06:48,733 --> 00:06:51,053 Speaker 3: will always give it that stand out thing where you 158 00:06:51,093 --> 00:06:53,733 Speaker 3: know that it's his voice. I think that just having 159 00:06:54,693 --> 00:06:57,013 Speaker 3: a new like new producers working on it. I think 160 00:06:57,013 --> 00:07:00,053 Speaker 3: also adding there's a little bit of electronic pop production 161 00:07:00,213 --> 00:07:02,853 Speaker 3: through some of the songs, some of the upbeat tempos 162 00:07:02,893 --> 00:07:05,853 Speaker 3: that is used, perhaps given it more of that modern edge, 163 00:07:06,373 --> 00:07:08,133 Speaker 3: but it still stands out for the fact that I 164 00:07:08,213 --> 00:07:09,893 Speaker 3: think we all want to hear a song that has 165 00:07:09,893 --> 00:07:11,853 Speaker 3: a little bit of feeling and meaning to it. Yeah, 166 00:07:12,133 --> 00:07:15,613 Speaker 3: we don't always just want the you know, flowery, the 167 00:07:15,733 --> 00:07:17,973 Speaker 3: flowery easy stuff. Sometimes it's nice to kind of knuckle 168 00:07:18,013 --> 00:07:20,013 Speaker 3: down and get stuck into a song. And I think 169 00:07:20,333 --> 00:07:22,413 Speaker 3: the way he's layered what he's good at doing, and 170 00:07:22,413 --> 00:07:24,693 Speaker 3: then adding all these upbeat jams to some of it, 171 00:07:25,213 --> 00:07:27,453 Speaker 3: I think that's kind of made it, you know, sort 172 00:07:27,453 --> 00:07:28,973 Speaker 3: of one of those classic albums. You can kind of 173 00:07:28,973 --> 00:07:31,493 Speaker 3: put it into any kind of decade and go, oh, yeah, 174 00:07:31,533 --> 00:07:34,053 Speaker 3: that kind of works here. Yeah, yeah is Stelle. 175 00:07:34,133 --> 00:07:35,613 Speaker 2: What's your rating for it? Out of ten? 176 00:07:36,293 --> 00:07:37,693 Speaker 3: I'm going to give it an eight out of ten. 177 00:07:37,853 --> 00:07:39,773 Speaker 3: I think it's a good listen, but do it a 178 00:07:39,773 --> 00:07:42,093 Speaker 3: couple of times so you can really start to hear 179 00:07:42,133 --> 00:07:44,573 Speaker 3: those lyrics and fall in love with us, all those 180 00:07:44,733 --> 00:07:45,613 Speaker 3: creepy minor cards. 181 00:07:45,653 --> 00:07:47,453 Speaker 2: Always good to start the year with an eight out 182 00:07:47,493 --> 00:07:47,813 Speaker 2: of ten A. 183 00:07:47,853 --> 00:07:49,293 Speaker 3: Stell ext I reckon. 184 00:07:50,893 --> 00:07:52,773 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you so much for your time and for 185 00:07:52,813 --> 00:07:55,653 Speaker 2: taking a listen. So the album is called Dear Life 186 00:07:55,973 --> 00:07:56,773 Speaker 2: from David Gray. 187 00:07:57,413 --> 00:08:00,493 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live 188 00:08:00,573 --> 00:08:03,413 Speaker 1: to news talks that'd be from nine am Saturday, or 189 00:08:03,493 --> 00:08:05,373 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.