After a 25-year break, The The is back. The London cult band contributed to the soundtrack of the 1980s with their mega hit "This Is The Day", among others. With "Ensoulment", frontman Matt Johnson (63) delivers his first studio album since 1999. We spoke to the post-punk veteran about his comeback, AI and why he doesn't want to fill stadiums. On June 29, The The will finally be playing in Zurich again - after decades - at the X-tra.
I've never been away. I've made film music, written books, traveled.
2018 then came the "Comeback Special" tour. The reactions were overwhelming. So I thought: time for new songs.
Not only. It's about life in the 21st century. About AI, politics, war. As Nina Simone said: every artist has to reflect their time. Today it's isolation in the digital age.
The music has to move me emotionally. I have to get goosebumps. If a song doesn't move me, it won't move anyone. That's been true since I was 15.
They worked harder. They toured more, were more productive. That has paid off. But extreme fame destroys life. What good is success if you can no longer walk around freely?
It's mostly people between 15 and 25. No, I'm joking: the majority of the audience is my age, of course.
Yes, it's fun again. The "Ensoulment" band is the same as on the comeback tour. Lots of laughter, lots of creativity. Better than in my twenties.
I have two good friends in Zurich - Dieter Meier and Boris Blank from Yello.