Sir Elton John has given a truthful insight into what it took to make his upcoming album, Who Believes In Angels?
For the first time in his career, the 77-year-old singer allowed cameras into the studio to capture the recording process.
The footage for short film Who Believes In Angels? Stories On The Edge Of Creation was gathered from hidden cameras dotted around the space. The recording devices captured hundreds of hours of raw footage.
The upcoming LP is a collaboration with country artist Brandi Carlile, and the pair recorded every song in just 20 days at the iconic Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles in October 2023. Sir Elton describes the album, which is his first since 2021, as ‘the start of my career Mark 2’. ‘I don’t want to coast,’ he stated.
In the short film trailer, Sir Elton shared his intention to create something ‘magical’, before adding: ‘The reality is I was exhausted, I had a lot of doubt, I was a nightmare.’
The clips show Sir Elton getting visibly frustrated, slamming down his drink, throwing headphones, and ripping up music sheets before saying: ‘I’m going home.’
Sir Elton has documented the process of making his new album (Picture: YouTube/Elton John)
In an awkward exchange producer Andrew Watt asked if he was ready to record, to which Sir Elton sarcastically replied: ‘Why do you think I am sitting here?’
‘I am just trying to make the song as best as it can be, you are so impatient!’ an annoyed Andrew tells the artist during another conversation.
Brandi, 43, summarised her experience, telling the viewers: ‘Elton is prone to bouts of insecurity especially where the stakes are high. I am having a hard time connecting to Elton.
‘There were times when I thought why does he want to do this.’
This isn’t the first time Sir Elton’s more fiery side has been shown. The recent moments are reflective of what viewers saw in the 1997 documentary Tantrums And Tiara, which was recorded during Sir Elton’s Made In England tour.
Despite the drama, Sir Elton stuck around as other people were involved and eventually ‘the fog started to lift’ and he found things began to flow.
Speaking more about why he took on the challenge after just completing Glastonbury and a tour, Sir Elton shared that he still wants to keep improving.
In the exposing teaser, Sir Elton is also shown getting emotional after finally becoming happy with the ‘immaculate’ album.
‘This is one of the greatest musical experiences of my life,’ he summarised.
Sir Elton has previously said husband David Furnish, 62 – who he met in 1993 – has helped him to control his ‘streak’.
‘I still have that streak in me, but the tantrums don’t happen so much any more. They’re more to do with self-esteem, nothing to do with shouting at people because things have gone wrong,’ he explained in 2004.
‘They happen when I am tired, and I just get in a snit. But David knows exactly how to deal with them. He talks me through it, saying “calm down” and that’s it.’
Who Believes in Angels? is set to be released on April 4 which is described as mixing multiple genres. ‘Ballads co-exist with raw rock and roll, pop songs and country-hued Americana rub shoulders with synth-heavy psychedelia,’ the promotional material teases.
‘The resulting songs somehow manage to be unequivocally the work of Elton John and Brandi Carlile, while sounding unlike any album either have made before.’ The title track is available to enjoy now, with Sir Elton writing on Instagrma how proud he is of it.
Sir Elton already has eight number one albums to his name: Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player (1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), Caribou (1974), Elton John’s Greatest Hits (1974), Sleeping With The Past (1989), The Very Best of Elton John (1990), Good Morning To The Night with Pnau (2012), and The Lockdown Sessions (2021).
Away from the music world, Sir Elton has been navigating a series of health woes over recent months.
In December, he revealed that he had lost sight in his right eye due to an infection.
Sir Elton John admits being ‘a nightmare’ after tearful tantrum