Jonny Greenwood has spoken to NME about the creation of The Smile‘s new album ‘Cutouts’, and the recent “fun and natural” reunion rehearsals of Radiohead.
Greenwood along with Thom Yorke and jazz drummer Tom Skinner (formerly of Sons Of Kemet) released their surprise third album ‘Cutouts’ last week as the follow-up to 2022’s ‘A Light For Attracting Attention’ and ‘Wall Of Eyes’, which was released just this January.
Discussing the quick turn-around between records, Greenwood said it was because “small teams move more quickly”, as opposed to the more resources being required for a Radiohead album (their last being 2016’s ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’.
“And we had a lot of pent-up energy when we started,” he continued, “so it’s felt very natural to just keep going.”
Check out the rest of our interview below (conducted via email as Greenwood continues to recover following a recent stay in intensive care) – where the multi-instrumentalist told us about The Smile’s work ethic, plans for the future, and the chances of Radiohead returning to the road or the studio any time soon.
NME: Hello Jonny. At the Prince Charles Cinema playback of ‘Wall Of Eyes’ earlier this year, you and Thom described the songs as “unfinished canvases around a room”. How do the canvases of ‘Cutouts’ relate to those on ‘Wall Of Eyes’?
“I think we had one-and-a-half records when we decided to release ‘Wall Of Eyes’ – so it was simply about finishing a few of the other canvasses off. There’s certainly no sense that these are leftovers: it’s just another record.”
Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke of The Smile perform at Tempodrom on May 20, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Adam Berry/Redferns)
How would you describe the sonic DNA of this record?
“The guitar parts are often focused on using a delay pedal. A few years ago, I started to wonder if technology was moving too fast to appreciate how powerful old ideas – like a simple echo – still were. So I decided to just use a delay pedal, a guitar and an amp for a year or two, and see what I could write with that (supposed) limitation.
“But then, the guitar, on its own, is already an amazing thing. Treating the delay as its equal opened up lots of directions. It’s still giving me ideas – probably to the point of nausea for Thom and Tom, but maybe there’s still room for a few more on the next record. If they’re different enough…”
Hearing some of these songs at Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year was a real treat. Do you find that sketches of songs take on a whole new life on the road?
“Sometimes. We had a so-called warm-up room on the last few tours – a tiny dressing room with drums bass and guitar in – which instead became a room to play new things together during the day (rather than just before the concerts). So changes did happen to the songs… though, as we’re just a trio, we’re all more exposed in what we’re doing, and are mostly just focused on how to serve the song. It’s often just a case of getting the arrangement right, and stopping the song before it gets boring.”
What do you feel that producer Sam Petts-Davies brings to the band and your sound?
“Warmth, patience, good mezcal.”
Your brother and Radiohead bandmate Colin has a new photo book coming out, in which he says you were always the most happy of all the band to have their photo taken. Would you agree?
“Poor Colin. It’s true, but only because I’ve pulled the same stupid face – one of panic/alarm – in 99 per cent of photos he’s taken of me over the years. So he just has lots of those. He could easily do a whole excruciating exhibit of that face. Luckily, he has hundreds of actually great photos (mostly not of his idiot brother) – and the book is brilliant. It shows how it really is to be in a band.”
Colin also recently said that Radiohead had been back in rehearsals over the summer. What was that for and how was it for you?
“It was fun and natural.”
Do you imagine that there might be more Radiohead music or live shows in 2025?
“There are no plans – we’ve lots of individual projects going on at the moment.”
Have you learned anything from your experience with The Smile to take back to Radiohead?
“Warm-up rooms.”
What’s next for The Smile? Will you be touring this record when you’re feeling better?
“I’m 90 per cent back to strength: I’m just working on film music, and not getting too stressed about any band stuff until I fully recover.”
What else have you got going on at the moment?
“Aside from a couple of films, just playing and writing guitar things. I’m kind of travelled out right now, and home is great.”
‘Cutouts’ by The Smile is out now. Thom Yorke has reworked Radiohead’s 2003 album ‘Hail To The Thief’ for a new production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that will hit the stage in April 2025. Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien is also expected to soon announce details of his second solo album, the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Earth’.
As well as being on tour as a live member of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, bassist Colin Greenwood is set to publish How To Disappear – a new photo book that documents the bassist’s life with Radiohead – on October 15. Visit here to pre-order.
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