Ian: The album title Octopus feels both playful and mysterious; what does it represent to you, and how does it tie the album together thematically or sonically?
Newton: This album is all about letting go for me. Baggage, ego, pressure, the list goes on. I wanted to explore by not directing anything off the musical path it was on, for no other reason than making it sound more like “me,” which I have done in the past. So, I felt my main job was to get out of the way and let every track go where it wanted to.
Ian: You’ve always blended acoustic roots with experimental sounds; what new directions or surprises can fans expect on Octopus?
Newton: Thank you, there’s some headphone ear candy on every track. The things I enjoyed working on the most were vocal production, which is something I really hadn’t played with in depth before and playing bass. I LOVED playing bass on this record, as much if not more than playing guitar (but don’t tell my guitars).
Ian: Was there a particular track on Octopus that pushed you creatively more than the others? One that didn’t come easy?
Newton: Ironically, You Make It Look So Easy was probably the hardest to get right. Getting the synths and vocoder (a recurring character on this record) to sit and flow with asymmetrical grooves was a challenge. I’m super happy with where it landed though, for me it’s one of the strongest tracks.
Ian: You’ve said in past interviews that you enjoy using music to tell stories; is there a central narrative or emotional journey listeners should look for in this record?
Newton: The story I want to tell, and the stories people hear can be very different and over the years I’ve surrendered to that. If you want to listen to Snakes and Ladders as I song about a board game or a song about US politics, that’s completely up to you.
Ian: You’re about to hit the road across the UK and Ireland; how are you shaping your live show around Octopus? Will it be more intimate, high-energy or something new entirely?
Newton: Definitely higher energy. Previously on tours I’ve been sitting, so that I can play drum parts with my feet, but for this material I’ve switched my drum stool for a pair of MIDI shoes that I’ve been slowly refining over the summer. This means I can stand, sing, play and move with so much more freedom than ever before. On one level it’s just really fun, but it also creates a totally different physical and sonic landscape for me to work within.
Ian: Your Irish fans are getting four shows this time, what’s drawn you to give Ireland such a strong presence on this tour leg?
Newton: I love playing in Ireland. Ever since my first gig of my first ever proper tour, God knows how long ago, it’s remained one of my favourite places to play and it has been for the last 20 years.
Ian: You’ve always had a unique relationship with your audience during live shows. Are you planning any unexpected moments or improvisations this time around?
Newton: Always. Well, I plan for, but I don’t actually plan because there’s always space for reaction within the show. I’m not just on transmit, I’m reading and looking for signs where people might want me to go or not go the whole set.
Ian: As someone who’s toured extensively over the years, what keeps the experience fresh for you, especially when introducing brand new material like the songs from Octopus?
Newton: I push myself right to the edge of my capabilities every night and as soon as something feels too easy, I’ll find somewhere else to take it. It’s very hard to get bored when operating at full capacity. Whether that’s the arpeggios in Don’t Make Me Beg or the energy of Alright, Alright, Alright.
Ian: Your recent singles have been getting a great response; how do they reflect where you’re at musically right now, and how do they hint at the broader sound of Octopus?
Newton: Something has been happening with this record that has never really happened before and that is that the names of artists or bands that people are connecting with this album are exclusively bands and artists I absolutely love. Which has made me really very happy. The album has no rules, I hope that every track is a curveball from the previous one.
Ian: Has your songwriting process changed since your earlier albums such as Hand Built By Robots? Do these new singles show a shift in perspective or approach?
Newton: In production and vocals, yes; in the writing process, less so. I’ve purposely avoided any systems or even constants in my writing process. So a starting point could be anything from just words to me tapping a rhythm on a mug and everything in between. Again, it helps things to stay fresh.
Ian: One of your recent singles seems more lyrically vulnerable than previous work, is that a direction you’ve been consciously leaning into with Octopus?
Newton: That is probably a product of letting the song go where it wanted. It wasn’t a conscious choice for the record as a whole.
Ian: Looking at the reaction to your latest singles so far, has anything surprised you about how fans are interpreting or connecting with the new material?
Newton: The reaction to the album as a whole has been genuinely overwhelming for me. I took a lot of risks on this record, and I had no idea how any of them would be received. So having pretty much unanimous positive feedback was not something I mentally prepared for.
Order Octopus here: https://newtonf.lnk.to/OCTOPUSPR
Live Dates
OCTOBER
Sat 11 ISLE OF WIGHT Strings Bar
Mon 13 NORWICH Waterfront
Tue 14 MANCHESTER O2 Academy 3
Wed 15 CARDIFF Globe
Thu 16 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy 3
Sat 18 EXETER Lemon Grove
Sun 19 BATH Komedia
Mon 20 CAMBRIDGE Junction
Wed 22 LEEDS Lending Room
Thu 23 NEWCASTLE Think Tank
Sat 25 ABERDEEN OGV Podium
Sun 26 GLASGOW SWG 3
Tue 28 LIVERPOOL Arts Club Theatre
Wed 29 LEICESTER O2 Academy 2
Thu 30 LONDON Camden Dingwalls
NOVEMBER
Thu 13 BELFAST Limelight 1
Fri 14 PORTRUSH Atlantic Sessions
Sat 15 DUBLIN Ambassador
Sun 16 CORK Cyprus Avenue
TICKETS: https://newtonfaulkner.os.fan/
Words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic