Elton John has addressed a recent video showing him in a heated moment, throwing his headphones during a studio session.
The footage captures the iconic artist while working on his upcoming project "Who Believes in Angels?" a collaboration with country music star Brandi Carlile and Grammy-winning producer Andrew Watt, who are described as "close friends and frequent collaborators," according to the Independent.
During an appearance on the Magic FM's "Mellow Magic" show with Nicki Chapman, the 77-year-old explained, "I was not in a good space; I was tired, I was grumpy, and I was very nervous," reported the Independent.
John's longtime songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, has played a key role in the making of the album, contributing lyrics to several tracks. The album was recorded at the renowned Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles in October 2023.
In a rare move, John allowed cameras to film the creative process for the first time, providing an inside look at the making of the album through a short film.
"I wanted this album to be special, but you can't guarantee when you go in the studio that something's gonna be special," he says in a voice-over clip.
"Reality is, I was exhausted. I had a lot of doubt. I was a nightmare."
In one scene, Watt says to John, "Dude, I'm just trying to make the song as best it can be, you're so impatient!"
In another, John snaps at Watt after he asks if he's ready to record.
"Why do you think I'm sitting here?" he says.
"Angry, I was tired, I was irritable," John admitted.
Carlile addressed John's mental state throughout the recording process, saying the music icon was "prone to moments of insecurity, especially when the stakes were high."
"There were times I thought, 'Why does he want to do this? Why? Why has he gone from Glastonbury to making an album with me?'" he added.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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