Eels star Mr E: I was close to quitting music for good

The frontman said he was burnt out after years of relentless recording and touring
Emma Powell1 March 2018
The Weekender

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Eels frontman Mr E has revealed he was on the verge of turning his back on music after burning out following years of recording and touring.

The US musician took a four year hiatus before announcing the release of his 12th studio album, The Deconstruction, earlier this year.

He told the Standard: “I was worn out after so many years of work, work, work, album, tour, album, tour. When I initially took the break I thought, I might just be done. But as time went on I gradually started to get re-inspired.”

Mr E, real name Mark Oliver Everett, said he feels The Deconstruction will be his strongest album to date as he had the luxury of time.

Still going: Mark Oliver Everett is releasing his 12th studio album

“The nice thing about having such a spread out period of time to record is there are songs that you think will make the cut, then a few years later it doesn’t hold up,” he said.

“Whereas if you do the typical way and go in to do a record in a month, then it’s three years after and you go ‘that shouldn’t have been on there’. So hopefully this is a bit of a stronger album because it has that luxury.”

Despite his chart success with hits including Novocaine for the Soul, My Beloved Monster and I Need Some Sleep, Everett said he still feels as “vulnerable” now as he did back in 1996 on the release of Eels’ debut album Beautiful Freak.

He said: “It’s hard. It’s a lot of mental razor-like focus. [The day of release] is terrifying. It’s the worst. Making a record is exciting, then it comes out and it’s this finite thing for people to judge and it’s an awful, vulnerable feeling. I don’t recommend it – don’t put an album out.”

Describing the new album he said: “It’s about how we’re all looking for specific answers to the big questions in our lives and it’s about realising that that’s a mistake and there aren’t specific answers. All there is is a collection of experiences and you just have to get comfortable navigating through the turmoil.”

He also revealed despite his distaste for getting “overtly political with songs,” he penned Sweet Scorched Earth as a reaction to Donald Trump’s presidency.

The Deconstruction is out April 6

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