[THE RECORD] : Thursday February 8, 2001

 

Bryan Adams heads into Kitchener as he puts final touches on new album

Michael Barclay

 It's been three years since Bryan Adams released a new album, but he's certainly been keeping busy.

 He's released two books of photography, featuring portraits of famous women, to raise money for breast cancer research; his photos have also been on display at the Vancouver Art Gallery. He sang on a dance single by Chicane which was a huge European hit, and he appeared with the band at the massive Spanish techno festival in Ibiza; there have been rumours that Chicane would be producing most of his new album, perhaps lending it a dance feel.

 But he's obviously itching to rock, which is why he's been embarking on some lower-key Canadian dates, like Tuesday's show at the Kitchener Auditorium, while he puts the finishing touches on a new album.

 He's so busy, in fact, that this interview was conducted via e-mail so that Adams could pen the responses in his apparently not-so-spare time.

Record: When is the new album coming out, and is this current tour a chance to try out material from the new album before you do a major-market tour?

 

Adams: The next album will hopefully come out this year, perhaps in the autumn. We have already recorded 13 tracks for it, but I expect I'll probably record another 13 before it's all wrapped up, knowing me.

 

Record: Last year you were touring as a trio with you playing bass. Why did you choose to do this and what challenges do you find playing bass and singing at the same time?

 

Adams: I did it to challenge myself and to strip down the songs so it was all about the voice. It worked out well, so well in fact that we have kept it that way. In the beginning there were teething moments, it was kinda like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time, but got over that thankfully.

 

Record: Why did you build a studio in Vancouver if you spend most of your time in London, Jamaica and France? Are you at all involved in its operation or was it simply a way to give back to your home community?

 

Adams: Well, it's the best studio in Canada, by far, and I'm the patron! It was dream or a fantasy to build a recording studio and I started building it long before the idea to move to London became certain. Once I had made the decision to move, I was so far into it, that it would have been a waste of time to have stopped. It's a beautiful building too, and we recently won a heritage award for restoration. It started as a decrepit mound of burnt bricks.

 

Record: You've lent your support to various causes including Drop the Debt and breast cancer research, but your songs steer away from discussing issues. Should politics be left to the media and left out of the music?

 

Adams: It depends on whether the song suits a particular issue. Then again, it depends on the songwriter and the artist on whether they can pull it off. I liked the song Don't Drop That Bomb on Me from the album Waking Up the Neighbours. Check it out.

 

Record: Outside of the breast cancer projects, what other subjects are you exploring in your photography?

 

Adams: I recently did some photos for Vogue Magazine in Russia and more recently a campaign for British designer John Richmond. The door seems to be opening little by little, I don't know where I'm going to end up, but I'm sure it will be fun.

 

Record: Has your interest in photography ever extended to directing videos?

 

Adams: No it hasn't, I have thought about it, but it has never happened.

 

Record: What was your experience like performing at Ibiza?

 

Adams: Imagine 8,000 people on ecstasy and the band going on stage at 5:30 in the morning. It was an absolute waste of time.

 

Record: How will the tracks that Chicane is producing blend in with the other material on your forthcoming album?

 

Adams: There was talk of doing something with Nick, but so far I haven't done anything else with Chicane other than that one song.

 

Record: What do you think it is that makes all the Spice Girls want to sing with you?

 

Adams: Ha! Admittedly, I have written songs that have Spice Girls on them. Most recently, Emma sang a song I wrote for her solo project.

 

Record: Have you ever considered an all-duets album?

Adams: It was discussed at one point and then it was never discussed again. I'm glad I've waited for that moment.

 

Record: Any favourite new Canadian artists?

 

Adams: Yeah, there are a few: Nelly Furtado, Sarah Harmer, Sky, Nickelback, Soul Decision.

 

Record: What challenges do you think they face similar to those that you did 20 years ago? What's changed and what's the same?

 

Adams: Hey, it's all about songs and hard work. If you want to break America, you have to sit on them. You gotta go there, tour and basically never leave. It's no secret. Ask the Barenaked Ladies.

 

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