Shirley Manson on New Garbage and Raging Against the Dying of the Light: Podcast

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Shirley Manson has never been one to shy away from big feelings, big statements, or big synths. Speaking with Kyle Meredith, the Garbage frontwoman dives into Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, a record that flickers with vulnerability, political outrage, and, surprisingly, hope. The follow-up to 2021’s No Gods No Masters, the new LP serves as a spiritual twin — but this one stares down the chaos with resilience rather than just rage. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.

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“I realized that if I didn’t change my tack, I was going to lose my mind,” Manson says of her shift in perspective after the last album. “I wanted to project love, even though I was feeling physically broken and emotionally spent.” That brokenness included two hip surgeries and the loss of her dog — yet she funneled it all into a more nuanced lyricism. Tracks like “Chinese Fire Horse” push back on industry ageism (“How dare you insinuate because I’m a woman in her 50s that I no longer have agency?”), while “Sisyphus” plays like a survival spell, echoing earlier tracks like “Fix Me Now” with deeper clarity; “It’s sort of like a prayer to recovery and good health,” says Manson.

She also reflects on her refusal to stay silent about world events, especially the humanitarian crises in Gaza and Ukraine. “I’ve gotten it in the neck for being outspoken,” she says. “But I was taught by my father to stand my ground. To be silent is complicit.” That same spirit fuels the band’s creativity; even with new recording methods during her recovery, she embraced the challenge: “I’d get these musical sketches from the guys and I’d say to my husband, ‘What the hell am I supposed to do with this?’ But eventually, they sparked my imagination.”

Listen to Shirley Manson talk about Garbage’s Let All That We Imagine Be the Light and more above or watch the interview below. Get tickets to Garbage’s upcoming tour dates in support of the new album here.

Keep up on all the latest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favorite podcast platform; plus, check out all the series on the Consequence Podcast Network.