We catch up with singer, musician and mod icon Miles Kane

So, the new album is in the can and all set to go – it was recorded in Nashville with Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys – how did that relationship come about?

It’s a real epicentre for American music – I imagine the musicianship was incredible.

Yeah, I felt I had to raise my game, because they were way better than I am – but that’s a focus I really like.

There's also some influence from local musicians – Nottingham’s own guitarist Barrie Cadogan is on the record – how did that come about?

Dan put all the band together and I’ve been a mad fan of Little Barrie (his band name) for years. He’s got a song called Surf Hell, which is one of my favourite songs from one of his first albums. As a guitarist he’s got that surf thing with the whammy bar going off – that Tarantino/Western thing. As a band we’re all kind of into the same stuff – it’s just cool man. They’ve got this effortless feel to their music.

The album has flavours of T-Rex, Glam and Prince – is that music you were raised on?

Oh yeah! Me mum and me nan. T-Rex, Bowie, Prince, Motown, Burt Bacharach, Roy Orbison, Scott Walker… all that stuff was my upbringing, and I never grew out of it and I’ve always tipped my hat to it - this is my 11th album in total. This is a new road for me, though, and I think it’s captured something special.

Does it make a big difference working with a recording artist as a producer – someone who has experienced life both sides of the mixing desk?

Yeah I think so. I think a producer who is also a songwriter is a really good thing. I’ve worked with my cousin [The Coral’s James Skelly] and Ian Broudie [Lightning Seeds] who are great songwriters. I think there’s an understanding there and it’s a healthy thing to have a producer who is a songwriter. As an artist you kind of want to hear their opinion and you put your trust in them. You have to let them take the reins sometimes and I’ve got no qualms in that being the producer.

The new single, Electric Flower, has a video which is reminiscent of The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony – it looked fun to make…

Yeah – it’s like that, but with a feather boa! It was just all my mates – there was no plan! It was perfect, there’s a realness about that video - it wasn’t choreographed.

You turn 40 next year - is that a landmark you’re already considering?

You know what, I liked the change and feel of hitting 30. I think in your thirties you know more about who you are and what you’re doing as you’ve lived. The older you get the better you are at dealing with the things that p**s you off or stress you out. I like that the older you get the easier that can be to manage at times and you can deal with it.

You’ve seen a lot of changes over that period and the industry can be so unstable. From The Little Flames and The Rascals to supporting the Arctic Monkeys and performing in The Last Shadow Puppets – I can’t imagine you could have ever of thought you’d be here all these years later…

Yeah. I’ve never taken it for granted and there’s an unstableness that comes with that, but I think I’ve learned how to steer through that better these days. I’ve always wanted longevity despite the ups and downs. That fire’s always ignited inside of me.

During the last decade the industry has changed dramatically – how have you coped with that?

I lived the life where I’ve released albums prior to Instagram and TikTok, but there’s a level of without selling your soul or being uncomfortable with it you do have to embrace it or otherwise you sound like a bitter old t**t and I don’t want to be that. It’s a balance, I’m not saying I want to be ‘hi guys, it’s me having breakfast’ – there’s a middle ground. I am embracing it without it becoming weird.

You’re in a position now where you can give new artists a leg up with support slots on your dates – is there anyone catching your eye at the moment?

I quite like that new mod band called The Molotovs, they’re pretty cool and have been down to our gig. They’re too big to support me but I like Get Down Services – I think they’re a cool band. The Molotovs would be a good match though.

You live in London now and with these record stores dates and a tour in the offing for 2026 – what food do you look forward to trying when you head north that the capital doesn’t do justice?

I do still think the fish and chips are way better up north and the curry sauce. I’m always let down by the curry sauce – I don’t know why! It’s too tomatoey down here. I want the no frills curry sauce – so I’ll be getting that deffo!

Miles Kane releases Sunlight In The Shadows on Easy Eye Sound on 17th October. He plays an acoustic set at Rough Trade in Nottingham on 15th September. You can read LeftLion's review of his last Nottingham show here.

@mileskane