Album cover: Positive Songs for Negative People

Folk singer/song writer Frank Turner has spent years making albums that include some of the most relatable songs you will have heard. His sixth album Positive Songs for Negative People was released in August of this year, and is the basis of his UK tour, which started on the 6^th November, and will be in Manchester on the 23^rd and 24^th of November. Turner will be on tour with The Sleeping Souls, the band that he has worked with for a number of years, and has worked particularly closely with for the new album. As they have just finished a US tour and have just begun the UK one, VIVA thought it would be a good time to have a chat with Frank Turner about the new album, the tour, and what he has to offer in the future for the fans.

VIVA: So you’ve said on quite a number of interviews that you’ve wanted this album to have a “debut feel” to it, why did you choose to record it in this way?

Frank: Well the thing is this is my sixth album as a solo artist and there’s not really anything terribly interesting about your sixth album. I feel that people are excited by new bands and new records and by the time you get to your sixth album your fans tend to get tired, and I didn’t want that to happen at all. I want to keep what I do sort of interesting and hungry and alive and all those kind of things.

VIVA: This album seems quite personal, in particular the first song in the album, “The Angel of Islington” which shows you love for London. What makes London so different to everywhere else?

Frank: I was raised down south in Winchester, but a lot of my Dad’s family are from London, so I spent a lot of time there whilst I was at school. For the first time in a very long time I feel like I have a place that is actually my home. The song, The Angel of Islington, is about a lot of things, but London is one of the main things that it’s about.

VIVA: This album seems a lot more upbeat than your previous album Tape Deck Heart, is there any particular reason for this?

Frank: I wanted to change it up. Tape Deck Heart focused on a certain time of my life, which wasn’t very much fun, but it’s done now. This record is all about surviving the bad and coming out the other side of it.

VIVA: So what can fans expect from you in the future?

Frank: Well the UK Tour starts today, I had a conversation with some producers yesterday about March 2017. I’ve got a lot of touring to do. I’d imagine by the time that the tour for this record is done I’ll have ideas about new songs. I’m quite enjoying the fat that I don’t have a clear answer to give you. People ask “what’s your plans for the future?” and I’m just like “I don’t f****** know”

Viva: Obviously you are on tour with the Sleeping Souls at the moment, do you think you’ll carry on working with tem in years to come?

Frank: Yes, I think so, they are amazing, they’re my friends, and they’re my co conspirators.

Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls will be performing at Manchester Academy on the 23^rd and 24^th November 2015. They will be supported by Skinny Lister, an extremely talented six-piece folk band, who’s latest single Six Whiskies is due to be released on the 27^th November. Turner will also be supported by Will Varley, a folk singer with a unique and unforgettable voice. Varley’s third album Postcards from Ursa Minor was released on the 30^th October 2015, the album is simply brilliant, and includes a range of songs that highlight Varley’s opinion on topics such as politics and social values.

Tickets are still available for the show on Tuesday 24th November, click here for more information.

Follow Frank Turner on Twitter @frankturner

Album 1

Photo credit: Tara Novak