Last month, the hard rock band Thunder released the album Dopamine , their first double album. Featuring 16 tracks, the album addresses a wide range of topics, from the pandemic and its effect on our routines to the consequences of social media on society.
Amidst the promotion of the album, guitarist Luke Morley spoke with Wikimetal about the themes of Dopamine , as well as sharing some details about the band's creative and recording process. Check out the full interview below, followed by a listen to Dopamine .
Wikimetal: What was the songwriting process like for the album? Has anything changed since the last one?
Luke Morley: I wrote the songs and recorded the demos in my home studio and then sent the songs to the band, which is the same way we're used to working. The only big difference was that I had absolutely no distractions because we couldn't tour, and I really couldn't do anything else but keep writing because of the pandemic and quarantine. I think that's why the album ended up being a double album.
WM: Did you record the album after the pandemic? What was the experience like?
LM: Because we like to record deep in the British countryside, we were able to do tests and isolate ourselves in Rockfield and Vada studios. To be honest, it was great because we were able to get together and work at a time when most people couldn't. I think that made the whole process more enjoyable and reminded us of how lucky we are to make a living doing what we love.
WM: What can you tell us about the album and the theme surrounding it?
LM: There are two themes that run through the album simultaneously – the pandemic and its effect on people, and social media. Some of the songs are about isolation and loneliness (“One Day We'll Be Free Again”, “Disconnected”, “Is Anybody Out There”) and trying to hope for happier times ahead (“Dancing In The Sunshine”), and some look at how social media can be a dark place (“No Smoke Without Fire”). I hope that, despite addressing some heavy topics, the album is still upbeat to listen to!
WM: Are you guided by the lyrics or the melody when you're writing a song?
LM: Both can happen. I have a notebook where I write down everything I think might be interesting topics to write about, and I use my phone's voice recorder to make musical notes, then I sit down and try to understand everything.
WM: Are you always writing and creating music, or will you have a quiet period now that you've released Dopamine ?
LM: I've avoided writing since we finished recording Dopamine , but I'm starting to get ideas again now, so hopefully my batteries have fully recharged.
