Kurt Vile discusses new, darker album with Rolling Stone

Indie singer-songwriter Kurt Vile sat down in Los Angeles with Rolling Stone to discuss his upcoming new album, which is his darkest yet he said.

“It’s definitely got that night vibe,” Vile told Rolling Stone.

The prolific solo artist and founding member of The War on Drugs talked about finding new ways to write albums and getting out of the familiar routines he grew accustomed to, telling the magazine “I wanted to get back into the habit of writing a sad song on my couch, with nobody waiting on me.”

Vile recorded his as-yet untitled upcoming album at Rancho de la Luna in Southern California. The record was produced by Rob Schnapf, who also worked on Beck’s Mellow Gold and Elliot Smith’s Either/Or. He says his new, handmade banjo will play an integral part in folk songs that will appear on his record.

The way Vile approaches writing music is both honest and open, which is seen throughout his discography, from the heavier moments of Smoke Ring For My Halo, to the sunny turnaround that is Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze.

“My music has to be funny and sad and happy and loving,” he said. “It’s gotta have it all.”

Vile has yet to announce a release date, but told Rolling Stone it would be out sometime this fall. Below, watch the video for “KV Crimes” from Wakin on a Pretty Daze, and read the entire Rolling Stone interview here.