The Enid’s former vocalist Joe Payne has checked in with an update about his career plans.
He left The Enid last September and has written a blog post on the first anniversary of his departure, saying that he’s shelved plans to write a pop song and has instead created something completely different.
Payne says: “I have now finished writing and arranging my debut single and will be heading into the studio with partner in crime Max Read for most of September to get it beautifully played and produced. I don’t want to give too much away at this stage, but I’ll tell you a little about the track.
“Firstly, despite my plans to write a pop song, I’ve ended up with an eight-minute epic that sounds like nothing I’ve ever heard. After learning all the tricks about advanced harmony and modulation, I couldn’t resist going to town on this.
“For the first time, I’ve been free to fully explore my ideas independently, and realise my vision without interference. It took a lot of courage to get started, but once I did it was very liberating, indeed.”
- New Issue Of Prog On Sale Now
- The Grateful Dead's long and strange story: told in the new Classic Rock
- Can’s Holger Czukay dead at 79
- Read Classic Rock, Metal Hammer & Prog for free with TeamRock+
Payne says the track is “catchy yet emotive” and adds: “It’s very important to me that I am transparent with you all about what I went through last year, and talking – or should I say ‘singing’ – about my experience with depression and anxiety could not come second to anything.
“The lyrics and melody came to me when I had reached my lowest point, and that’s as beautiful as it is sad.”
Payne is looking to release the single in early 2018 and back it with a b-side and bonus tracks.
He adds: “ I am planning to sync this up with a one-off event, and will let you know more about that later.”
The singer also reveals he’s been working with the writer John Holden on a record along with Oliver Wakeman, Oliver Day and Pete Jones.
“There’s a lot of character voices and experimentation from me on this record,” he says, “and it marks a transitional period – rediscovering what my voice wants to sound like, slowly deconstructing and rebuilding from the sound I’d forged for The Enid.
“You can expect to hear more about that album ahead of Christmas this year!”
