As the world seems to become more divided by political ideologies and points of view, British singer-songwriter and punk-rocker Frank Turner is aiming to bring people together. This past May, Turner released his seventh solo studio album, Be More Kind—a record which highlights the importance of thinking about how people communicate with each other.
“Every time I’ve made a record, I’ve tried to push into new territory and not repeat myself, but with this one, really I was trying to make some bold steps out of my comfort zone,” Turner said.
Although the album takes a political tone, Turner is wary about calling it at political album. Instead he calls it a “social” album. Comparing his work to the political music of Rage Against the Machine, Rise Against and Anti-Flag, Turner says his songs are intended to highlight the idea of uncertainty and confusion.
“I wanted to write political songs about not knowing what was going on, which was a hard trick to pull off, but I think it went okay,” he said.
“We need to take a step back and think about what we’re doing . . . because we’re rapidly de-humanizing our opponents.” –
Frank Turner,
Punk rocker
One of the songs that highlights that theme of uncertainty is titled “1933,” which was also the year the Nazis came into power in Europe. The song describes the chaos of that period of history and compares it to the rise of populism in the United States and Europe. Turner said he doesn’t, however, do it in a way that equates current political events to the atrocities of the Second World War.
“In between 1933 and 1945, there were choices to be made . . . I don’t think we’re at a point of no return—a point at which we’re inevitably headed for a kind of cataclysm—but I do think we’re at a point where we need to start seriously thinking about the choices we make going forward, and I guess that’s what ‘1933’ is about,” he said.
Rather than explicitly taking sides on issues, the album’s tone is based on unity. He said that with the current political discourse and conversations on social media, people are abandoning the idea of a “centre ground” and confusing “anger with wisdom” all too often.
“I really think that collectively, we need to take a step back and think about what we’re doing with all of this because we’re rapidly de-humanizing our opponents,” Turner said, “and any amateur historian will tell you that that’s an extremely dangerous moment in any given society. So, the overall tone, I guess, is about trying take a moment to consider and to reach out and find common ground.”
This past year, Turner has brought his live music around the world, having surpassed over 2,200 shows since the beginning of his solo career in 2005. He is back in Canada for an upcoming Ottawa show.
“I feel like I have an affinity with Canadian music,” Turner said, citing Joel Plaskett and the Arkells as some of the Canadian artists he has come to like. Turner has toured with the Arkells on several occasions, serving as the headliner on U.S. and U.K. dates and the opening act on Canadian dates.
Turner is no stranger to Ottawa. He has performed in the capital many times at Maverick’s, the Folk Festival (now CityFolk) and Bluesfest.
“I’m very excited to be heading back to Ottawa again,” he said. “It’s been a while, but I’ve always had great shows in Ottawa.”
Overall, Turner doesn’t feel that his music should control what people say and do.
Instead, he wants people have their own interpretations, and at the same time, consider how they treat others.
“A better ambition for music for me—and what I hope people might do and take away from this record—is to consider how they interact with the people standing around them, and how they think about and engage with the people they encounter in society, and again—as I say—the people they disagree with,” Turner said.
Turner is set to play a show at Ottawa’s Bronson Centre on Sept. 24.
Provided photo
