Jake Bugg Working On New Album With Chili Pepper

Jake Bugg is headed to Australia as part of the 77-strong lineup of Splendour In The Grass 2013, as well as a special pair of sideshows this July, in Melbourne and recently upgrading to Sydney’s The Metro, to complement his visit to the Byron Bay music festival.

In fact it was the 19-year-old Nottingham native’s ‘Ligtning Bolt’ that soundtracked the announcement that Splendour would be relocating in 2013 to its new permanent 660 acre site at North Byron Parklands in Yelgun.

While Bugg is still benefiting from the momentum of his star singles, including ‘Two Fingers’ and ‘Seen It All‘, the singer-songwriter has already revealed that he’s begun work on the follow-up to his self-titled debut album, and could be due as early as next year.

In an forthcoming feature interview with Tone Deaf, Bugg spoke about the follow-up to Jake Bugg, released in October 2012, “I hope people see my songwriting is improving… I’m halfway through (recording) it and it’s a step up, a real progression.” When asked about the differences to his debut, Bugg says: “Well, the whole thing is produced by the same guy.”

The ‘guy’ in question being none other than legendary producer Rick Rubin, Bugg recording at his Shangri-La recording studio in Malibu, California (the former studios of The Band and Bob Dylan).

Rubin even called upon some of his musical pals to help out with sessions, chiefly Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and producer/guitarist (one-time Zwan member) Matt Sweeney.

On hand capturing the recording sessions was photographer Ken Westerberg, who has images peppered across his Facebook of the sessions (which you can view below).

The Chili Pepper also tweeted about his time working with the UK musician upon completion of sessions in April, as well as posting an image to his Facebook.

Jake Bugg showin me how its done http://t.co/CkHa11Hljl
— Chad Smith (@RHCPchad) April 15, 2013

Finished Jake Bugg yesterday, Neal Schon with Mike and Sam today,start Jennifer Nettles record tommorow…I'ma busy bee
— Chad Smith (@RHCPchad) April 29, 2013

As for the sound and direction of Bugg’s second studio effort, the songwriter says “there’s an overall sound but it’s still like me – from what I hear,” before joking, “it could be awful!”

“It’s not more polished. You can hear what I’ve been listening to – I’ve incorporated those influences,” he adds, noting he’s been listening a lot to Stormbringer! , the 1970 LP from veteran British singer-songwriter John Martyn, which saw him and his wife Beverley flying to New York to record the album with The Band’s drummer Levon Helm.

The as-yet-untitled album “will be be out early next year, or maybe this year,” according to Bugg, and follows on from his UK #1 debut album, which landed Brit and Ivor Novello trophies for the singer-songwriter, while our Tone Deaf reviewer revered Bugg’s album for having “too much potential to ignore… his years are partly the reason behind this album’s early acclaim.”

Perhaps Splendour-goers or attendees of Bugg’s sideshows will get a taste of the new material in the live setting. Check the dates for Bugg’s Splendour 2013 Sideshows after ogling Ken Westerberg‘s awesome in-studio photography.