At only 22 years old, British indie rock singer/songwriter Jake Bugg is releasing his third studio album On My One (on June 16). Jake's latest record includes 11 new tracks, including singles "One My One," "Gimme the Love," "Love, Hope and Misery," and "Bitter Salt." Jake recently stopped by iHeartRadio HQ in New York City, where he opened up about his new album in an exclusive interview.
Jake says that many of the songs on On My One have a common theme: "a feeling of loneliness." And while some of them are very personal, some of the tracks were stories he wrote to try and put himself somewhere else to escape any personal struggles he was facing. He tells us:
"A lot of these songs, the element that kind of runs across them all is a feeling of loneliness. Some of the songs, they are personal, and some of them, whenever I want to get away from personal things, I write stories to try and put myself somewhere else."
Jake also revealed the meaning behind each track on On My One. He explained what the song lyrics are about, what inspired them, and what they mean to him.
Check out our interview with Jake Bugg where he breaks down the meaning of every song on On My One below:
Track 1: "On My One"
"That's a song about ... if all the things that have happened to me since the release of the first two records, and had happened. I always thought what kind of song I would be singing, so it's kind of written about that really."
Track 2: "Gimme the Love"
"That's a song that's about, I was kind of frustrated at how things sometimes are in this industry, and how everybody just wants to be liked and that's the reason for the chorus, 'Gimme the Love, Gimme the Love.'"
Track 3: "Love, Hope and Misery"
"That's a song about somebody having feelings for somebody else that doesn't feel the same way. But the other person feels guilty about not feeling the same way as them, and so they're trying to explain it to them, and it can be difficult."
Track 4: "The Love We're Hoping For"
"That's one of the more darker songs. That's about somebody that's a bit of a recluse, and they don't really like to go out that much and keep themselves, and kind of dig a dark hole for themselves."
Track 5: "Put out the Fire"
"That's not really about anything in particular. That's just about, if you wanted to put it into a metaphor, it would be about running away from the fire, being whatever you would want it to be. But that's more of just kind of a little fun song that I wrote, just to have some fun playing."
Track 6: "Never Wanna Dance"
"I'm not a fan of dancing. So, I thought I'd make a song about, that's kind of what it's about. And also, it's kind of about having feelings for somebody once before and not feeling the same way of not making much of an effort to keep things together. So it's a sad song really."
Track 7: "Bitter Salt"
"That's about an on and off relationship. I think a lot of people have experienced it when they keep going back to the same person, and then they keep breaking up with them."
Track 8: "Ain't No Rhyme"
"That's kind of one of the edgier songs, lyrically. I wrote that when I was back in Nottingham, and I was kind of out of stuff that every time I go back, I always hear crazy stories because I haven't been there for a while, and things that have been happening, and the way things are. And so that's more of like a social commentary thing."
Track 9: "Livin' up Country"
"That's just kind of a story, a bit of a love affair with Tennessee. I just thought of a little story about some guy that's trying really hard to be successful at what he does, but is failing miserably."
Track 10: "All That"
"I've traveled around quite a bit now in touring, and [have] met some people on the way, a few ladies, and sometimes things don't work out how you would like. Whether you are both busy or just doing your own thing in the world. So it's just about drifting apart from people that you were so close to at one time."
Track 11: "Hold on You"
"That's kind of a cheeky song about somebody having a hold on somebody, and not letting them go out of selfishness."