Miles Kane tells us about new Dan Auerbach produced album ‘Sunlight In The Shadows’ – and the chances of a Last Shadow Puppets reunion

Miles Kane has announced details of his new album ‘Sunlight In The Shadows’ – produced by his new “friend for life” in The Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach. Check out new single ‘Love Is Cruel’ below, along with Kane telling us about the record and the chances of The Last Shadow Puppets reuniting for his Sheffield Leadmill farewell gig.

Due for release on October 7, the former Rascals frontman sixth studio album on Auerbach’s own Easy Eye Sound. Celebrating all the sounds and swagger of Kane’s career to date, the album comes previewed by the reflective ‘Love Is Cruel’ – which Kane described as “Clint Eastwood and Judy Garland in the desert at dusk”.

“It was a no-brainer for me to release this first,” Kane told NME. “It’s got all the bits that I love: Western vibes, surf, a Beatles-y vibe. It’s got a classy element about it. I feel like it’s set the tone for what’s to come and it feels right.

“It’s about me not looking back or forward but just trying to be present and find solace in me being in my own little zone. That’s where I’m at in life, and I wanted to portray that with this Tarantino-y vibe.”

Written and recorded with Auerbach in his native Nashville, the album sees the producer and frontman frontman sing and play on every track along with contributions from The Black Keys’ drummer Patrick Carney, plus Pat McLaughlin, Daniel Tashian, Tom Bukovac, Nick Bockrath of Cage The Elephant and Barrie Cadogan from Little Barrie.

“This record was incredible to make,” said Auerbach. “From start to finish. I felt like I gained a life-long friend in Miles. And that doesn’t always happen. When it does, it’s amazing. This is an artist who could potentially make records forever.”

Check out our fill interview with Kane below, where he tells about making a “real connection” with Auerbach, looking back on his life, and if he’ll hook up with Alex Turner when he visits Sheffield for his next show.

NME: Hello Miles Kane. What would you say to sum up the essence of ‘Sunlight In The Shadows’?

Miles Kane: “I’m absolutely obsessed with it. You’ve got your T-Rex glam rock-y ones that are like, ‘Wow!’, then there are slower moments. There are two songs called ‘Always In Over My Head’ and ‘Walk On The Ocean’ which have almost a bit of a crooner-y Burt Bacharach vibe – they’re a bit [Last Shadow] Puppets-y as well. It’s got all the elements that I’ve shown over 20 years of making music and stuff. I feel it’s all combined into one.”

You’ve said that “all roads over the last 20 years have led to here”. Does this feel like a Miles Kane greatest hits?

“Fucking too right, yeah! Definitely mate, I’ll take that.”

Is this your ‘mature’ album?

“Am I sounding boring and old? Yeah! That or mature, but it just feels right. We’re here, if that makes sense.”

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What snapshot does this album take of your life right now?

“Every album is a little chapter in your life. I like to write about worries and love and the things that I’ve learned over the years. The older you get, the clearer it is to express those things and put them in songs. I still have that underdog thing in me, which gets portrayed on the faster songs.

“I like that I’m in my own little lane and I just want to carry on with that and not get caught up in anything. I’ve found my own little world that I’m happy in. If anyone wants to come into that, you’re more than welcome. I feel content in that.”

What did Dan Auerbach bring to the table?

“I only met him last summer for the first time. I’m a proper fanboy of his work: his production, The Black Keys, his solo albums. His second solo album ‘Waiting On A Song’ has got some absolutely amazing tunes, especially ‘King Of A One Horse Town’. The original plan was that I was going to go over just to do some writing. I made my last album with my cousin James Skelly from The Coral. The plan was to do that again because it really worked well and we had a good run. I thought that if I did write anything with Dan, I could bring them back to record with our Jay. Then me and Dan just hit it off so well. It sounds so fucking cheesy, I know, but the connection was something really special.

“Then he said, ‘I’d love to produce you and I’d love to sign you’. It was this opportunity that happened out of nowhere; it wasn’t the plan at all. Even our Jay was like, ‘Man, you’ve got to do this – this is special’. For once in my life, it all fell into place. I was still touring that last album until December, then in January I went over to record with Dan and this incredible band that we put together. We recorded the album in five days, we did it all live, and I just felt so comfortable and respected. The result is so good that I’m still pinching myself about it all.”

Dan described you as now a “life-long friend”. What was going on there to take it beyond your standard producer-artist relationship? 

“You know when you just connect with someone? The older you get in life, it’s harder to find connections – especially in this world that we’re in. You’re acting real, but you never know if they are. Then when you meet a real one, it takes one to know one. That’s how me and Dan found each other. We’re so similar in many ways: the way we like to work, our influences, how we hang out. He cooks a fucking mean steak and we love cooking. There’s an emotional connection that none of us expected and that helped the music. He’s a great guy, I appreciate what he’s doing for me, and I want to give it my all.”

Can we expect some on-stage collabs when you join The Black Keys on their UK tour next month?

“There are no plans at the minute, but that’s probably quite a possibility. Let’s see how we get on.”

You’re also playing the last ever gig at The Leadmill in Sheffield. What does that venue mean to you?

“What a complete honour. Through all of my career, The Leadmill has always served me very well. To give that its send-off is a beautiful moment, and that’s gong to be my first gig back too, so that feels special. It’s strange how things are happening at the moment.

As a gift to Sheffield, what are the chances of a Last Shadow Puppets reunion with Alex Turner? 

“There are no plans for it at the minute, but my door is always open.”

Do you have that itch to scratch – to make another record with Alex Turner? 

“Well, I would, but we’ll just see where it goes. I’m always up for anything, me.”

Including rock supergroup covers band The Jaded Hearts Club perhaps? 

“Bring it all on, mate! Bring it all on.

‘Sunlight In The Shadows’ is released on October 7 via Easy Eye Sound. PreCheck out the tracklisting below:

‘Love Is Cruel’
‘Electric Flower’
‘Sunlight In The Shadows’
‘Coming Down The Road’
‘Always In Over My Head’
‘Blue Skies’
‘My Love’
‘Without You’
‘Sing A Song To Love’
‘Slow Death’
‘I Pray’
‘Walk On The Ocean’

Miles Kane’s upcoming UK tour dates are below. Visit here for tickets and more information.

June
Friday 27 – SHEFFIELD, The Leadmill

July 
Tuesday 8 – LEEDS, Millennium Square*
Wednesday 9 – MANCHESTER, Castlefield Bowl*
Friday 11 – LONDON, Alexandra Palace Park*
* with The Black Keys

The post Miles Kane tells us about new Dan Auerbach produced album ‘Sunlight In The Shadows’ – and the chances of a Last Shadow Puppets reunion appeared first on NME.