The Edge has hinted that new materials from U2 shall be arriving “very quickly”, and that the band are trying into organising some dwell exhibits.
The guitarist gave an replace about new music from the band throughout a current interview on the Sodajerker on Songwriting podcast, and confirmed {that a} new single could also be dropping imminently.
“There may be a brand new track taking place very quickly, which you’ll hear about. Can’t say any greater than that. We’re in an ideal place creatively,” he mentioned.
He additionally added that the band have gotten into the behavior of presenting completed sections to 1 one other in the course of the writing course of, to allow them to deal with materials that may be absolutely fleshed out reasonably than one thing that’s “by no means going to work”.
“I form of tricked myself. I used to be going, ‘OK, that is for The Edge solo album, so [I] can’t be, like, leaving this stuff half-finished. It doesn’t must have completed lyrics, but it surely wants to essentially cling collectively. And that further self-discipline, I believe, has been very helpful,” he mentioned.
“I’ve been simply engaged on a lot materials, and now that we’re performing some U2 periods with that materials, it seems prefer it’s paying off,” The Edge continued. “We nonetheless would possibly find yourself altering it round rather a lot, however we’re not gonna be losing our time on an concept that was by no means going to work.”
The final new music U2 shared arrived in 2023 within the type of the standalone single ‘Atomic Metropolis’. Final 12 months, nonetheless, they did share some beforehand unheard materials that was recorded in 2004. This got here as a track referred to as ‘Happiness’ that first got here collectively in the course of the periods for the band’s 2004 album ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’.
Later within the current interview, The Edge mentioned that the band had been wanting to embark on extra dwell exhibits following the completion of their big ‘U2:UV Achtung Child Dwell at Sphere’ residency on the Las Vegas Sphere.
“We’re hoping to get to do some exhibits,” he mentioned. “We did the Vegas run, which was incredible, however we didn’t get to see a lot of the world. We’re trying ahead to hooking up with our followers the place they dwell, versus them having to return to us.”
This isn’t the primary time that the guitarist has shared perception into new materials from U2. Again in November, he shared an replace on the following U2 album, claiming that it’ll not be “a straight-up rock factor”.
“I assume we’re at that nice honeymoon interval of numerous experimentation, and all types of attainable themes musically,” he revealed. “I believe the guitar shall be a giant a part of the following report, however I don’t suppose it’s going to be a heavy rock album. I believe it’s going to be a really totally different sort of use of the guitar, not a straight-up rock factor.”
Hints from the band about potential new music on the way in which stem again to 2023 too, shortly after they kicked off their big residency in Las Vegas. Chatting with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, frontman Bono and The Edge mentioned they’d sufficient concepts prepared for over 100 new songs.
“Nicely, I believe new music, new tunes,” the latter mentioned. “There’s rather a lot that we’ve got prepared and a few that want a bit dusting off, however shall be prepared quickly. I let you know, we’ve acquired some wonderful new songs. Actually thrilling.”
Bono added: “Edge has about 100 within the bag. I’ve about 20… however [bassist] Adam [Clayton]’s acquired one thing to contribute.”
Simply weeks in the past, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. opened up about his restoration from an harm – which pressured him to take day without work from the band –and shared what followers can count on from new materials. “I don’t suppose it will likely be what we usually do. I might hope it might be one thing totally different. However I’m excited to get again in some capability,” he mentioned, occurring to trace at a 2026 tour.
In a separate interview with The Edge again in November, the guitarist revealed that U2 are actually recording new music with the returning drummer, in addition to teaming up with Bono and Brian Eno for “some loopy sort of sci-fi Irish people music”.
Whether or not that materials shall be a part of U2’s subsequent album, Edge mentioned, “We’re unsure but, we’ll see,” earlier than increasing: “A part of our sort of course of is to go so extensively away from, off observe, and the form of the method of bringing issues again on observe is sort of the way you get form of distinctive sounding music.”