Steven Wilson on “the only thing” that prog rock artists have in common
Steven Wilson has spoken about what he thinks is “the only thing” prog rock artists have all got in common.
The Porcupine Tree frontman released his eighth studio album ‘The Overview’, which is comprised of two, 20-minute-long tracks. He is now doing press interviews to promote the new project, and when speaking with online music magazine and YouTube channel Innerviews, he gave his views on prog rock artists.
Wilson said the only thing prog rock artists have in common is a “will to move away from the standard pop form”, arguing that they have a want to “take a listener on a journey.”
When Wilson was asked about the lengths of his tracks on the new project, and why he chose to go back to prog rock, he said (as reported in Loudwire): “I think the return to progressive rock is in the idea of the long form.”
He added: “What is “progressive rock”? To me, the only thing all of it really has it common – and I’m talking about the whole spectrum . . . from Pink Floyd to Frank Zappa, to Rush, to Mogwai, to Radiohead – the only thing it has it common, really, is it’s a will to move away from the standard pop form. It’s kind of a – this idea that you can take the listener on a journey and you can surprise them, and very often, that involves doing something over a longer period of time.
“Not always, but a lot of bands obviously veer towards 10, 15, 20-minute-long pieces, and that is obviously what this record is. And that, I think, is one of the hallmarks – if not the preeminent hallmark – of what I think of as “progressive rock.”
In other Steven Wilson-related news, he opened up about his recent chart battle with Playboi Carti, saying he’s “yet to meet anyone who’s even heard of” the rapper.
The release of his album coincided with the release of Carti’s fourth LP ‘Music‘. The following week, Wilson hit Number One in the UK’s midweek album chart in a surprise victory against the rap superstar. However, though it seemed like he may have been on track to receive the first UK Number One of his career, he ultimately landed at Number Three in the end-of-week chart, with Carti claiming the top spot.
Wilson told The Telegraph that he wasn’t surprised about the rapper’s victory. “It was no competition, really, let’s be honest,” he said. “[Carti’s] music is almost the antithesis of mine – short, minimal, full of the kind of digital sounds you hear on mobile phones. There are no solos, which have completely disappeared from modern music.
“It’s all about the vocals these days, and it reflects the pace of life we live now. I completely understand why it might be more interesting to 15-year-old kids raised on computer games and TikTok.”
Last summer, Steven Wilson announced details of a 2025 UK and European headline tour, which will mark his first solo dates in seven years.
The European leg will kick off on May 1, while the UK dates commence on May 10 with a show at Beacon in Bristol. This will be followed by two nights at the London Palladium on May 12 and 13, before further stops in Newcastle, Glasgow and Salford. Visit here for tickets and more information.
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Aneesa Ahmed
NME
