Premium Content:

John Grant returns with new album 'The Art of the Lie'

John Grant has announced his new album The Art Of The Lie will be released on Friday, June 14 via Bella Union.

To accompany the announcement Grant has shared a comedic trailer for the album which features the irresistibly funky first single It’s A Bitch which is available on all streaming platforms now.

- Advertisement -

Grant first came to prominence in the indie band The Czars, but since they split in 2006 he has released a succession on intriguing and genre defying solo albums. He’s also opened up about being gay and living with HIV.

The Art Of The Lie will be the seventh album of his solo career and follows on from 2021’s Boy from Michigan.

Commenting on the new single It’s a Bitch Grant revealed it draws on a lot of 1980’s nostalgia.

“It was a blast making this track which is just about having fun with words, synths and dope rhythms and bass lines and also making fun of post-COVID malaise. Plus, people get to ponder what a ‘hesher’ is. I loved going to the arcade in the 80s and watching smokin’-hot heshers hold court while playing Tempest, Stargate, Robotron and Asteroids, and while also blasting Iron Maiden and Rush on their Walkmans.”

John Grant began thinking about The Art of The Lie in the Autumn of 2022. Earlier that year, John had been introduced to Ivor Guest, producer and composer at Grace Jones’ Southbank show, the finale of her Meltdown Festival.

They began talking about two records Guest had worked on, Hurricane for Jones, Prohibition for Brigitte Fontaine.

“Grace and Brigitte are two very big artists for me,” says Grant. “I love the albums he did for them. Hurricane is an indispensable piece of Grace’s catalogue.” An idea was sparked. “I said, I really think you should do this next record with me. He said, I think you’re right.”

A year and a half later, the result is what promised to be John Grant’s most opulent, cinematic, luxurious album yet: The Art of The Lie.

The tracks on the album include 1. All That School For Nothing 2. Marbles 3. Father 4. Mother And Son 5. Twistin Scriptures 6. Meek AF 7. It’s A Bitch 8. Daddy 9. The Child Catcher 10. Laura Lou 11. Zeitgeist

Read our previous interviews with John Grant. We chatted in 2015 and 2018

OIP Staff, image: Hörður Sveinsson

Latest

Former actor Laurence Fox gains retrial over racist defamation claim

An appeal court has found that Fox's counter claim in a libel case should have been heard, but the original judgement will remain.

Fresh Tracks | The latest tunes worth checking out

New tracks from Ladytron, Melanie C, Sudan Archives, Courtney Barnett, Tame Impala, Louis Tomlinson and Eurovision star ADONXS.

On This Gay Day | Poet Jean Rimbaud was born in France

He gave up writing at the age of 20 but is considered a major poet of the 19th century.

Local government election results begin to be called

Across the state results are being called in the 2025 local government elections.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Former actor Laurence Fox gains retrial over racist defamation claim

An appeal court has found that Fox's counter claim in a libel case should have been heard, but the original judgement will remain.

Fresh Tracks | The latest tunes worth checking out

New tracks from Ladytron, Melanie C, Sudan Archives, Courtney Barnett, Tame Impala, Louis Tomlinson and Eurovision star ADONXS.

On This Gay Day | Poet Jean Rimbaud was born in France

He gave up writing at the age of 20 but is considered a major poet of the 19th century.

Local government election results begin to be called

Across the state results are being called in the 2025 local government elections.

Trump commutes sentence and releases George Santos from prison

The former congressman has been released after serving just a few months of his seven year sentence.

Former actor Laurence Fox gains retrial over racist defamation claim

An appeal court has found that Fox's counter claim in a libel case should have been heard, but the original judgement will remain.

Fresh Tracks | The latest tunes worth checking out

New tracks from Ladytron, Melanie C, Sudan Archives, Courtney Barnett, Tame Impala, Louis Tomlinson and Eurovision star ADONXS.

On This Gay Day | Poet Jean Rimbaud was born in France

He gave up writing at the age of 20 but is considered a major poet of the 19th century.