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When NME interviews Jarvis Cocker, Pulp is in the midst of back-to-back BBC specials and final preparations for their UK arena tour. This whirlwind of activity is all in honor of one significant milestone – the Sheffield band’s long-awaited return with ‘More’, their first album in 24 years. How does it feel to be immersed in ‘Pulpmania’ again?
“I think that’s a bit exaggerated!” the frontman chuckles. “It’s nice. When you create an album, it feels like you’ve shared something personal. That’s a fulfilling experience, but then it transforms into a record that, hopefully, resonates with people and becomes a part of their lives.”
Pulp’s music is woven deeply into the emotional fabric of indie fans, remaining a timeless soundtrack on dancefloors, still echoing those acrylic afternoons and the awkward fumbles of youth.
After their split following the release of 2001’s ‘We Love Life’ (a peaceful end, with everything just slowing down), reunion tours in the following decades have been a joy. However, apart from the one-off single ‘After You’ in 2013, a full album from the once-reluctant Britpop icons seemed a daunting prospect.
Then came: more. A new song made its way into the setlist. “It was great to have something to work on during soundchecks while out on tour, but when you actually play it for people hearing it for the first time, you get a sense of whether they enjoy it. That really shifts your perspective. We all had fun with it, and that led to the idea of, ‘Well, if we can do one song, why not try to create more?’”
More new tracks were introduced on tour, thrilling fans and building momentum. Tragically, the loss of beloved bassist Steve Mackey in 2023 provided an additional impetus. “Losing him was a significant blow,” Cocker reflects. “On a fundamental level, his passing made us contemplate our own mortality and what we want to achieve in life. It spurred us on to create because we were still in a position to do so.”
NME: When did you realize you were crafting Pulp’s comeback album?
Jarvis Cocker: “I always had it in the back of my mind that making a record could be a worthwhile endeavor, but I didn’t want to scare everyone off by saying it out loud since the last two Pulp albums took ages – mostly due to my procrastination. I didn’t want to stress everyone out with the thought of losing two years of their lives to make an album. So, I decided to be mature and write the lyrics first, which expedited the whole process.”
“It felt like returning to the early days of the band, when we didn’t have a record deal or any external pressure. No one was asking us to make this album, but we thought, ‘We have some good songs, so let’s record them.’”
What was the chemistry like in the studio, being back in a creative space with these people after so long?
“Surprisingly, it was quite effortless. Making music with others fosters a unique and intimate relationship, even when you’re not explicitly communicating. You become a collective organism where no single person is in charge. That’s a wonderful feeling, producing something that you couldn’t achieve alone.”
There’s a line in ‘Spike Island’ – “I was born to perform, it’s a calling”. You truly seemed to embody that on the last tour..
“It took me quite some time to embrace that sentiment again. I notoriously struggled with the pressure of sudden popularity in the late ‘90s because we lost control over what we were doing. The situation turned business-oriented. Ultimately, I don’t possess a vast skill set! Shouting, pointing, and jumping around on stage are my main talents. Performing brings me immense joy. There’s no barrier separating you from the people who listen to your music. It transports me to a place I can’t reach in everyday life.”
Do you perceive Pulp as a band people can grow into?
“Hopefully, yes. That’s one thing I appreciate about this record – you can tell it’s created by people of a certain age. We’re still exploring the same themes we’ve always addressed in our songs, but now we’re examining them through a more mature perspective.
“There are many downsides to aging, but one positive aspect is that you can learn more about who you are, which can help you stop worrying about projecting a certain image.”
‘My Sex’ stands out on ‘More’. What does that song reveal about your relationship with sexuality compared to what you might have written 30 years ago?
“It was my realization that much of my perspective on sexuality has been shaped by listening to women discuss it. As a heterosexual man navigating relationships, it felt peculiar to learn how to be a man while constantly considering a woman’s viewpoint. It was honestly quite confusing!”
So you’ve never identified with the ‘macho’ stereotype?
“The concept of ‘macho’ perplexes me. I think it’s clear that I’m not really a macho man, and at this stage in my life, I don’t foresee becoming one.”
Do you ever hit the gym?
“Yes, I do. I went this morning.”
Do you focus on weightlifting or cardio?
“More like pilates, to be honest.”
What do you think it is about Pulp that captivates a younger audience?
“Perhaps it’s because I was consumed by pop music from an early age and sought to understand the world through it. The moment I started writing songs coincided with my first attempts at relationships. I realized that a love affair is nothing like the love depicted in songs. I felt a bit misled by the way love was portrayed in pop music.
“This realization set the foundation for my songwriting in Pulp: to pen the words for love songs, but reflect more accurately how I perceive it. That approach has remained consistent. Perhaps that’s why younger people resonate with Pulp songs: because I was an adolescent when I developed that idea. I continually seek meaning in music. Some may view it solely as entertainment, but for me, it’s always been much more.”
With yourself, Oasis, Supergrass, Suede, and others making a comeback, why do you think there’s a yearning for that era?
“I’ve always disliked that term. I would never willingly associate myself with it. It was an exhilarating time before the label of ‘Britpop’ was assigned to indie bands gaining mainstream recognition. It felt like a revolution was possible. If people are experiencing that sentiment again – the belief that they can create something original that garners attention – that would be fantastic. If that spirit is returning, I’d be thrilled, just not the ‘BP’ label – it’s a dreadful term.”
Will we see you at any Oasis reunion concerts?
“If I can get on the guest list, I’d love to see what they do!”
Now that ‘More’ has arrived, can we expect more? Could there be another new Pulp album now that you’re back in the groove?
“Maybe. We tried to avoid building a concept for this album or thinking, ‘This is it, our final hurrah.’ I used to have that mindset. Whenever I finished mixing an album, I would think, ‘Oh, I could die now, and that would be fine.’ That’s a terrible way to approach life, honestly. I didn’t feel that way with this record. Inside the sleeve, it states, ‘This is the best we can do.’ That’s all anyone can aim for at any point in their life. Hopefully not in another 24 years, but perhaps in a few years, we’ll have something else to share.”
Pulp’s ‘More’ is available now via Rough Trade. They kick off a UK arena tour at Glasgow’s Hydro OVO on Saturday, June 7. Visit here for tickets and more information.
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