‘We're In Pop Culture, Nuance Doesn't Work’: Things Have Changed For IDLES’ Joe Talbot

“Well, the album, Ultra Mono, is about acceptance of the self, as a way of having the confidence to use empathy to kill fascism.” 

At a time where the world seems divided on so much, IDLES frontman Joe Talbot remains clear. The UK five-piece’s third album follows up 2018’s hugely successful Joy As An Act Of Resistance - a release that saw them tour the world with sold-out shows, earn praise from critics and amass a large, and extremely loyal, following.

There was, of course, a flip side, with the heavily political nature of the album proving divisive. For Talbot, it often resulted in being misunderstood, misquoted and misread. Ultra Mono presented as a way for Talbot to shake the fear and confusion. 

“The start of it is self-acceptance,” he continues. “The whole album, Ultra Mono - even the words ultra mono, to be the ultimate, unified self - so that’s all about self-reflection, as a way of self-acceptance, as a way of self-progression.

“I think to emphasise truly, one needs to be vulnerable to that party, open up and listen and allow the person to talk and hear their story properly, to understand and truly empathise to do that to your adversary, which is a very brave thing, because your adversaries are often aggressive, or violent sometimes...

“Empathy is something you learn through vulnerability. And to have the confidence to do that you need to first identify yourself, love yourself, and understand yourself. And that comes with reflection, and listening to the rhythms of your behaviour, the rhythms of your feelings and emotions, and how your actions often echo those things.

“And it was written around a time when I felt very isolated, and alone, and defensive, and scared. And we were starting a new album, and I was just obsessing over the critics... and our growing audience, instead of focusing on the art, and focusing on myself. So I use the album and its title as a way of moving forward existentially, which is to just be. I read The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle and I read Awareness by Anthony de Mello, and really kind of try to learn the practice of eradicating the past, and the future in order to just be in the moment and be a unified self.

"I'm not going to make another album like this. I'm done. I don't need to do it."

“And obviously, the timing is a double-edged sword, isn't it? This album couldn't have come at a better time in terms of needing to rely on oneself, to have peace in a time of isolation. It's also a time where we can't play and have that conversation in a physical sense. You know, we're a very privileged band and we get to do these things and we get to be out there in the world and our audience are carrying us through it. We're very grateful. And like, this album is all about self-acceptance, and I think, in a time of isolation it’s paramount.”

IDLES demand unity and equality. They challenge toxic traits while encouraging honesty and compassion - of themselves, and of those around them. At their core, the songs from the aforementioned Joy As An Act Of Resistance, 2017’s Brutalism and their several prior EPs are highly personal, with Talbot opening up about the death of his mother and his stillborn child, alongside discussions of immigration and racism in the modern-day UK.

When asked if he considered writing less personally for the sake of his own privacy going into this album, Talbot shares it was, in fact, the opposite.

“It was important for me to explore it further with Ultra Mono, definitely," he answers quickly. “It was paramount, really. It was like, my way of approaching self-doubt with self-acceptance. And I did that on a platform on which I can have reflection.

“I guess it's like that idea of 'vulnerability is strength, joy is an act of resistance', really. It’s like I knew that I was worried about what people were thinking of me and my opinions, and I kind of had this feeling like, ahh, [I’m] just sick of everyone attacking my politics. I'm not here to bark orders at people and have a go at people. I'm just explaining how I feel, and trying to start an open conversation, I’m not attacking anyone.

“And then I realised that we're in pop culture and nuance doesn't work. So I thought, I’m going to be more naked, you know, I was worried about my nakedness, so I just stripped off completely, and distilled my lyrics down as concisely as possible to cut through that and to be able to let go of it. 

“I'm not going to make another album like this. I'm done. I don't need to do it. Ultra Mono is apex me in terms of that style of writing, and I want to change how I write and I want to expand, but with Ultra Mono it was about being as me as possible, as ultra me as possible. It was about being as distilled and concise and impactful as possible, and that impact is in the lyric, each section of every song, there is an impact. I’m not hiding behind anything. It was really freeing to do it.”

Ultra Mono is out Friday 25 September.