- Music
- 18 May 16
The guitar legend's newest album will feature new material as well as covers.
Eric Clapton has spoken about his upcoming new album, I Still Do. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Old Slowhand describes his contemporary creative process.
"It is like being possessed", he said in the interview. I Still Do will be Clapton's twenty third solo studio record. His latest compilation album, Forever Manwas released in April 2015. The first track off the new record, 'Catch The Blues' was written by Clapton and is available now.
The majority of the record was recorded live in studio with Clapton saying the highlight of the recording was a cover of Skip James' 'Cypress Groove'. "I doubt we can get that any better onstage". Other covers on the record include Bob Dylan's 'I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine' and Irish songwriter Paul Brady's 'I Will Be There'.
Clapton took some time to reflect on the importance of music in his early life stating that, "it [music] became my escape. I would go to music and let it wash over me. And I would shut the world out. I could deal with anything as long as I had my record player. I was gone. You couldn't get to me.
When asked why he was still producing new material Clapton said that the "album is fresh in that it's me, at this moment".
He also stressed the importance of getting "hands-on experience" when writing new material. Clapton worked with producer Glyn Johns who also produced 1978's Backless.
I Still Do will be released on Friday May 20 on Clapton's own Bushbranch Records/Surfdog Records label.