Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno Previews New Album

Kasabian will release their ninth studio album, Act III, in 10 days. Frontman Serge Pizzorno previewed the record from his home studio in rural Leicestershire in an interview with the BBC.

Pizzorno now works in a structured, distraction-free environment for four or five hours a day, a shift from the band's early days. He described his current process as fast-paced, even eliminating lunch breaks. The studio, nicknamed "The Sergery," is a black cube in a secret walled garden, guarded by a giant gorilla sculpture.

The Sound of Act III

Pizzorno played two tracks from the forthcoming album. The first, Soulmate, is a tribute to his wife Amy built on a "peacocking guitar riff." The second, Say You (Closer), features three-part harmonies so pronounced it brings The Eagles to mind. The thought of recreating those harmonies live gives him jitters. He joked that in rehearsals it sometimes sounds like the famous band and other times like "three pissed up people in a pub," adding he hopes to get the crowd to sing along.

The focus on strong melodies was deliberate. Pizzorno stated he feels it is "not a very melodic time in music" and yearned for powerful hooks and verses. This is evident on the single Hippie Sunshine, which features a lairy, chanted chorus interrupted by a twinkling piano breakdown. He compared such musical shifts to 60s songs like Good Vibrations, describing them as exciting "handbrake turns."

Themes and Inspiration

The contrasts in Hippie Sunshine serve a thematic purpose. Pizzorno explained the verses critique "soulless tech oligarchs" whose algorithms dictate modern life, while the bridge represents a sober awakening for those elites. He linked this to observing his teenage sons' screen time, advocating for moments of boredom and self-reflection as crucial for creativity.

He is not a fan of AI songwriting, seeing it as removing the enjoyable part of his work. For him, the studio is a playground. He demonstrated this by generating a bass line on a new Moog DFAM synth, sparked by a simple desire to "mess around." Everything in the studio is automatically recorded to capture such moments, but the band is selective. Act III is a compact 10 songs, each chosen because it was deemed good enough for a live setlist.

A Band Reborn

The album's release follows a remarkable comeback. Six years ago, the band sacked singer Tom Meighan before his assault conviction. "The pain was unbearable," Pizzorno said, but they felt they couldn't let the story end. He stepped up as frontman, a move that gave Kasabian a "new lease of life." Their shows have become more theatrical and communal.

Commercially, they are thriving. Their June headline show at London's Finsbury Park was the biggest of their career. If Act III tops the charts next week, Kasabian will achieve seven consecutive number-one studio albums, beating Led Zeppelin's record. "We never thought we'd have days like that again," Pizzorno admitted.

Becoming the frontman changed his life. He now runs to prepare for shows instead of drinking, inspired by his wife's marathon running. He wants to create laser-beamed memories for audiences. Despite his quiet, tea-sipping demeanor offstage, he says pure energy takes over when he performs.

When asked about rumors of playing at Oasis's rumoured Knebworth shows next summer, Pizzorno said he had not heard the rumor but asked, "who wouldn't do it if they were asked?" Plans for a tenth album are already taking shape on a whiteboard in his studio. He described the process as having the "fishing rod is out, and I'm looking for a big fish."