Jacknife Lee is best known for his work behind the boards for the likes of U2, The Killers, Bloc Party and so many more, but on June 26 he’s releasing an album of his own called The Jacknife Lee, which follows up his self-titled album from 2007. On the record he’s got a ton of guests, including Genesis Owusu, Sneaks, Haviah Mighty, Petite Noir, Muthoni Drummer Queen, Bibi Bourelly, Barny Fletcher, Aloe Blacc and Open Mike Eagle, but today he has shared “I’m Getting Tired”, which finds him working with Beth Ditto and Def Jam’s Earl St Clair.
Jacknife says: “I’d become obsessed with “Attica Blues” by Archie Shepp from 1972. The intensity is relentless. It’s for the head, heart and feet. It has dissent imbedded in its DNA. I wanted to reach even a little bit of that when I started this track. Earl St Clair has an incredible voice and came over to the studio to hang out. We ate, listened to some records including Attica Blues and then I played a beat I had. He wrote some words, sang and yelled on it and it became “I’m Getting Tired”. He captured the frustration and exasperation we were feeling with what was happening in the States.“
The intensity is immediate in “I’m Getting Tired”, as jagged guitars and a solid beat lay out a dark and stormy scene. Earl St Clair’s voice dashes in, pinwheeling in the swirl, swerving with passion between mounting chaos of brass, voices and other atmospheric injections. By the end of “I’m Getting Tired” you will feel exactly that – but also exhilarated, and ready to go out and fight everything wrong with the world.
The Jacknife Lee comes out on June 26 via Slow Kids Records. You can follow Jacknife Lee on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
