Chrissie Hynde Talks About Real Music and Pretenders New Album ‘Alone’ in Interview on 88.5 KCSN

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders Talks to KCSN about Alone - by California Rocker
Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders Talks to KCSN about Alone - by California Rocker
Chrissie Hynde says 'Real' music is making a comeback - Photo courtesy of The Pretenders
Chrissie Hynde says ‘Real’ music is making a comeback – Photo courtesy of The Pretenders

By DONNA BALANCIA

Chrissie Hynde thinks Rock ‘N’ Roll groups are making a comeback and more young bands will continue to form — if producers can afford them.

“Anyone would agree even the guys on their laptops, nobody would disagree: A guy playing a guitar or someone behind a drum kit is always gonna sound better,” Chrissie told Marc “Mookie” Kaczor in an interview for KCSN 88.5.

“It’s like vinyl,” Chrissie said. “Everyone knows it sounds better it’s just a fact of life. Everyone would rather be working in the capacity of a band. Everyone would. I don’t know any disc jockey or producer who wouldn’t rather have real players. They just can’t afford them.” Hear the interview HERE.

KCSN debuted “Holy Commotion,” off the new Pretenders album, Alone, available to general public on Oct. 21. Pre-order the album on iTunes HERE. The Pretenders are touring, with a stop at the Forum in LA – get tickets HERE.

Collaboration with Dan Auerbach

Chrissie Hynde and Dan Auerbach team up on 'Alone' - Photo courtesy of The Pretenders for CaliforniaRocker.com
Chrissie Hynde and Dan Auerbach team up on ‘Alone’ – Photo courtesy of The Pretenders for CaliforniaRocker.com

On the record she teams with Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys.

“I probably did meet him in Akron at some point, not as citizens of Akron or residents of Akron, but just passing through in our band capacities,” Chrissie said.

“I’ve seen the Black Keys a few times, and I just hugely admire him.

“He’s a great guitar player, I love his music, his songs, his voice everything — I dig the band, Chrissie said.

“Then I knew he’d gone into production,” Chrissie said. “I don’t listen to people’s records they produce. I just like someone’s vibe, I certainly dug his. I had it in my head I’d love to do something with him and he agreed to do it and I was very surprised. He’s great and I really look up to him.”

On Sharing the Credit

“I didn’t know how to do it in the early days,” Chrissie said. “I was an introverted little mess sitting on the edge of my mattress crying into my guitar. I didn’t really know how to collaborate I just did it the old-fashioned way. Then more recently I was in a studio with people used to using computers and they said, ‘How did you write that?’ I said ‘On my guitar,’ they said, ‘You’re kidding,’ and I said no and they never heard of that before and I realized how old-fashioned that is.

Hopeful About Bands

Dan Auerbach told Chrissie to write about her experience being 'Alone' - Photo courtesy of The Pretenders
Dan Auerbach told Chrissie to write about her experience being ‘Alone’ – Photo courtesy of The Pretenders

“About six months ago I was kind of depressed and felt bands are over. I feel there’s going to be a big resurgence of bands. If you’re 16, there’s still nothing better than taking up a guitar and sitting behind a drum kit. I think we’re going to see a lot more bands.”

On Being Alone

“I was talking to Dan in the studio and some of the other guys in the studio.

“… I said I do everything alone, I go to the cinema alone, I go to restaurants alone, I hang out alone, I live alone. Dan said write a song about it. Twenty minutes before my cab was coming, I was going back to London and he said ‘Sing over this,’ I just pulled out some lyrics and it was the title track. It’s kind of rough it’s like a spoken word kind of thing and we were laughing and If you’re laughing it’s Rock ‘N Roll, that’s why it’s the title track.”

Chrissie authors ‘Reckless’

The songstress has written her memoirs, a book called Reckless, which she said served a purpose.

“It was cathartic,” she said. “Everyone has a story and this is a way of turning the page and moving forward in your life. Fortunately I had a story I could sell.”