Oh Wonder are back with a new album.
The alt-pop English duo is set to release their fourth studio album 22 Break featuring the titular track, as well as their new song 'Don’t Let The Neighbour Hear.' The new album, out on 8 October, will be the follow-up to 2020’s No One Else Can Wear Your Crown.
As the brainchild of married couple Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht, Oh Wonder’s albums have always been relatable on an emotional level, but this latest instalment is deeply personal, particularly because it draws on their firsthand experiences in dealing with the fragility of relationships.
The pensive mood of the lead song '22 Break' has since been transformed into a cinematic masterpiece, courtesy of a monochromatic music video that features West and Vander Gucht reenacting their temporary breakup.
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Bandwagon had a quick chat with Oh Wonder - from almost breaking up while in lockdown, to heading back on the road for their latest album.
First off, can you tell me more about your album 22 Break?
West: Yeah. So we made the album during lockdown over here. It is… I guess it's a journey through us questioning our relationship and writing songs about it.
Vander Gucht: That’s exactly what it is, yeah. Lockdown was like a hard period for everybody obviously. We were just at home here, and yeah, having trouble so we did the only thing we knew which was writing songs. And, it’s ended up in a break-up album basically.
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How’s this new release different from your other albums?
West: I think it’s the most honest thing we've put out. All of the songs are about us which is a change to the normal. I think we often write about other people and their situations so it’s the first time we’ve drawn from our own experiences really.
What was the writing process like for this album?
West: It’s quite mixed. So normally we’d write just our music at a piano, and then we’d write the whole song, and take it to the studio but with this new album, we kind of did bits in the studio, bits of piano, bits of guitar. It was really fun, and that kind of helped to create a different sound.
I understand that you guys are a couple. Is it challenging touring and writing music together? And how do you strike a balance between your personal and professional lives?
Vander Gucht: Yeah, it is a challenge. Hence this new album. It’s weird. It’s bittersweet because you’re doing the thing you love the most in the world with the person you love most in the world so it’s like the greatest joy, the highest high… but also, it means that you can happily work for like, most of the week, and you don’t carve out any time for yourself.
West: It also means that because the highs are so high, the lows are obviously low as well because when things happen they happen to the both of you. So the other person’s not there to pick you up and get you through it since they’re also going through the same experience.
On Twitter, you issued a statement on the 23rd of September saying you broke up for a bit there, so I was wondering if it was tough writing a break-up album with each other?
We nearly broke up last year. It sounds dramatic, but it's the truth.
— Oh Wonder (@OhWonderMusic) September 22, 2021
22 Break, maybe the first break-up album in history written and recorded with the person you're breaking up with. It's awkward, it's vulnerable, but it also saved us.
October 8th 2021https://t.co/iw7tTSdrcE pic.twitter.com/vnsI4tYbs9
Vander Gucht: Yeah, it was. Well, we did nearly break up. That’s what the album is… it’s us going "what is this", "why are we having problems," "what’s the solution," and "what’s the outcome?" So yeah, it was tough.
West: We didn’t set out to write a break-up album but it’s what kind of appeared I guess.
What can you tell us about the short film that’s slated to be released with the album?
Vander Gucht: Oh yeah! So we worked with an amazing director called Thomas James who brought the whole album to visual life, and we made this really dark but really beautiful 40-minute film. The album is basically the soundtrack to the film, and we recorded and filmed it here in the UK. It was an amazing film shoot but it was also very difficult.
West: Very intense, and very weird.
Vander Gucht: But we’re really proud of the film, and we’re excited for people to watch it.
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I know you guys performed live at the Albany Theatre in London after the Covid restrictions were lifted. What was it like going back on tour again, and performing live for the first time after months and months?
Vander Gucht: So good!
West: It was amazing. It was a strange feeling an adrenaline rush again for the first time. We kind of didn’t know what to do with it. Before we got on stage, we were so excited to be up there, and the feeling that runs through your body is an odd feeling we only ever get when going on stage.
Vander Gucht: Yeah, it’s mad. It was equal parts amazing and terrifying. I don’t know what to do with all this adrenaline. It’s sort of like an unknown experience I guess.
West: It felt good to be back where we belong.
On the topic of performing, what can fans expect from your upcoming tour?
Vander Gucht: We’ve announced the first part of our world tour but we’re hoping to add some dates in Asia, hopefully towards the middle of next year. It’s going to be a big party isn’t it really, for everybody because it’s going to be the first time in a long time so we’re really really excited.
I heard you guys also did a virtual performance for the Indonesian Festival, We The Fest. What was that like?
Vander Gucht: Yeah, it was really cool! That was actually our first performance post-lockdown, and it was so lovely just to be playing songs again, and playing with our band. It was so joyful. Live music is the best thing ever. It brings people together, and it’s so affirming and unifying. We just felt really lucky to be able to have the chance to play for an Indonesian festival, even if it was in London.
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What’s the difference between performing virtually and live?
Vander Gucht: You don’t have a crowd. I always see live music as a conversation.
West: When you’re on stage, the conversation with people’s faces—just their reactions and their expressions—it’s a two-way thing.
Vander Gucht: You can have a crowd and it would still be a bad show if they’re not engaged and also partying. It’s definitely a two-way thing. A virtual performance is sadly a one-way thing.
West: And, it feels a little bit more flat doesn’t it? Compared to a live show.
Vander Gucht: You don’t have people going “yay!” You finish your set and there’s just complete silence, and you’re like “okay, I imagine you’re clapping.”
Any plans to perform in Singapore?
Vander Gucht: Yes! We do definitely have plans to be back in Singapore. We miss it so much. We’ve played a few shows there now, and as soon as we’re allowed to, and it’s safe to do so, we’re going to come to Singapore for sure.
Lastly, is there anything you’d like to say to Singaporean fans?
Vander Gucht: To all our Singaporean fans, we miss you, and we love you. We can’t wait to be back eating your delicious food. I really miss Singaporean food so bad. And yeah, please enjoy our new album. I hope it brings you comfort, and hopefully see you next year for a real-life, in-person show.
Oh Wonder's new album 22 Break is out on 8 October. Get it here.
Tickets for the band's 2022 UK and European tour are also on sale here, and the dates are as follows:
March 2022
3 – Glauvclub, Moscow
4 – Morze, St Petersburg 6 – Club Hollywood, Tallinn 8 – Hanzas Perons, Riga
9 – Loftas Art Factory, Vilinus 11 – Stodola, Warsaw
12 – B17, Poznan
13 – Klub Studio, Krakow 15 – Arena, Vienna
16 – Atelier Babylon, Bratislava
17 – Akvárium Klub, Budapest
19 – Astra Kulturhaus, Berlin
20 – Amager Bio, Copenhagen
21 – Rockefeller Music Hall, Oslo
23 – Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg
24 – Carlserk Victoria, Cologne
26 – Magazinni Generali, Milan
27 – Les Docks, Lausanne
29 – Backstage Werk, Munich
31 – Tivoliredenburg – Ronda, Utrecht
April 2022
1 – Amsterdam, Paradiso
3 – Le Trianon, Paris
4 – Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
6 – Den Atelier, Luxembourg
7 – O2 Guildhall, Southampton
8 – The Great Hall, Cardiff
9 – O2 Academy, Liverpool
11 – Rock City, Nottingham
12 – SWG3 Galvanisers, Glasgow
14 – Olympia Theatre, Dublin
15 – O2 Academy, Leeds
17 – Newcastle University, Newcastle
20 – O2 Institute, Birmingham
20 – O2 Ritz, Manchester
21 – O2 Academy Brixton, London
22 – UEA, Norwich
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