His debut solo single Wall of Glass put him back where he belongs, but Liam Gallagher’s new single Shockwave is already powering towards a much bigger launch. Competing for a Top 10 position on the Official Singles Chart in his UK homeland, now Liam builds on that flying start by sharing the track’s official video. Directed by the award-winning François Rousselet, the video sets Liam’s swaggering charisma to some striking, cinematic-scale photography. It takes him on a voyage through America’s Deep South, from desolate wastelands to train tracks and large-scale protests.
The video comes as Liam confirms that his eagerly anticipated second album Why Me? Why Not. will be released on September 20th on Warner Records. The album is now available to pre-order and will be available on a variety of CD, vinyl, download and streaming formats. There will also be a special D2C package which compiles a deluxe CD, a sun yellow vinyl album and a one-sided etched 12” which features three deluxe bonus tracks along with a demo recording that’s exclusive to this format – all packaged in a hardcover book. Pre-order HERE.
Why Me? Why Not. was written by Liam with producers Andrew Wyatt and Greg Kurstin, and recorded in Los Angeles and at RAK Studios in London. Wyatt and Kurstin previously contributed writing and production to Liam’s all-conquering debut solo album As You Were, and Liam was keen to get even deeper with them this time. As a result, Why Me? Why Not. is a clear upgrade on As You Were but not a radical departure.
Liam explains: “I wrote some songs on my own for the last album, but this time it’s all co-writes. Reason being is I want it to be even better than ‘As You Were’. I know my strengths and I know my limitations. I’m an ok songwriter, but I’m a great singer and frontman. I want the second album to be a step-up because the hardest thing to do is to make something the same, only better. So that’s what we’ve done.”
Shockwave has seen Liam Gallagher make a typically full-throttle return. Super intimate sold-out show at Hackney Round Chapel? Biblical. Premiere and release of the long-awaited As It Was’ documentary? Completed. Featured on the cover of Q, who described him as “rock’s finest frontman”? Naturally.
Liam Gallagher’s debut solo album As You Were was a critical and commercial smash. It debuted at #1 in the Uk and top 10 in Australia. Liam was back where he belonged, selling out huge outdoor shows and earning major awards from Q, NME and GQ.
Liam’s next double-bill of huge UK shows comes at the end of the month. He’ll play a sold-out Eden Sessions show on the 26th before hitting Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage on the 29th.
