Bobby Long chats new album ‘Sultans’; ‘you feel like you grow every time you make an album, and this was no different’

British singer-songwriter, Bobby Long, released his fourth effort, Sultans, on March 1. Sultans pays homage to Long’s love of The Beatles’ and specifically their album, Sgt. Pepper, which he grew up listening to in his family’s household located in rural Southwest England. Long emerged on the open-mic scene in England in 2009, and gained quite a bit of attention when his song was featured in the ever-popular film, “Twilight.”

He then made his home in NYC, and has since released his debut album, A Winter’s Tale (2011), then Wishbone (2013), and his previous release with Ode to Thinking (2015). Sultans was produced by Long’s friend and fellow musician, Jack Dawson. During a brief break on his tour, Long took some time to discuss Sultans, his love of The Beatles, working with Jack Dawson, his love of touring and his fun favorites. Full tour dates included after the interview below.

Let’s talk about your new album, Sultans. What was the writing and recording process like for it?

Bobby Long: It was fun and another really great recording experience. You feel like you grow every time you make an album, and this was no different.

This album pays homage to your love of The Beatles. Why did you decide now was the right time make an album centered around this?

Bobby: It wasn’t really a conscious choice. It was more of a natural occurrence that happened with the songs evolving and really dictating which direction we were moving in. I think the Beatles have always been a big influence on my music, just like The Kinks or The Zombies, but this album took on some elements that are reminiscent of The Beatles.

Bobby Long pays homage to his love of The Beatles with his new and fourth album, Sultans, featuring collaboration with fellow musician, Jack Dawson

You’ve worked and played with Jack Dawson before. What was it like working with him again on a departure from the previous recorded material?

Bobby: We always have a great time and like being around each other, so I love working with him. He is a really talented guy and so in tune with me that it feels like I have an extension of myself at times.

You don’t tour often, so when you do you’re very intentional of where you like to perform. Why is that, and are there places that you want to tour, but haven’t yet?

Bobby: Well, I toured a lot early on in my career and having a child recently has made me want to be around him and at home more. It’s easy to get burnt out. In all honesty, I’ll happily play anywhere. But ‘anywhere’ isn’t always a place where people know who I am and will come out to see me play.

Fun Questions

What do you most look forward to on tour?

Bobby: Getting on stage and playing songs.

Speaking of tour, I know one of your favorite places to tour at is Eddie’s Attic. After all these years performing there, what is your most favorite aspect of returning to Eddie’s Attic to perform?

Bobby: It’s just a really good place to play with really good people who work there and come out to hear music. It’s easy playing in that spot and allows me to really enjoy the experience.

What artists, current and/or upcoming, would you like to collaborate with?

Bobby: I’d like to collaborate more with my musician friends in general. It’s hard getting together as it is, and when we do, it’s easier to just hang out than work on new music.

What are you currently reading and/or listening to?

Bobby: I’m listening to Willie Nelson a lot at the moment and the Lemon Twigs. And I’m reading Puckoon by Spike Milligan again.

Tour Dates:

March 16— Jammin Java, Vienna, VA
March 22— Fat Tire Friday, New Belgium Brewery, Asheville, NC
March 24— Eddie’s Attic, Decatur, GA
April 5— Fat Tire Friday, New Belgium Brewery, Fort Collins, CO
April 11— Cactus Café, Austin, TX
April 12— Poor David’s Pub, Dallas, TX
April 13— Blue Door, Oklahoma City, OK
April 16— Duck Room at Blueberry Hill, St. Louis, MO
April 17— Gaslamp, Des Moines, IA
April 18— Raccoon Motel, Davenport, IA
April 19— Café Carpe, Fort Atkinson, WI
April 23—Club Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA
April 24— Rumba Cafe, Columbus, OH
April 25— Lo-Fi Lounge, Indianapolis, IN

Connect with Bobby on social media via his:
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Bobby Long to release new album, Sultans, out in March; tour to follow

As evident on his newest album, Sultans, U.S. based, British-songwriter, Bobby Long‘s love of The Beatles shines through on this release, due out onCompass Records March 1.

The two part title track pays homage to Sgt. Pepper, and of course, Long’s memories of the music being played at his home growing up in rural southwest England. The album features new songs of original material, featuring themes of love, loss and heartache, for which Long is known for.

Long started out his music career playing at open mic nights in London in 2009, and had one of his songs featuring in the hit film Twilight. He then came to the US, relocated to New York, and has made it his musical home since. In that time, he released his critically-acclaimed debut album, A Winter’s Tale in 2011, followed by Wishbone in 2013, and Ode to Thinking in 2015.

“The songs on this album are a definite continuation and development,” Long explains. “It’s about the whole body of work for me. It’s all part of the greater. I don’t think you can define anyone by one album. When you’re recording, you always have the greater picture in your head. Your imagination runs over the tracks, and they take all sorts of weird forms. The sounds of this record are the closest to what was in my imagination that I’ve come on a record.” Sultans was produced by multi-instrumentalist Jack Dawson with whom Long had collaborated and toured with on behalf of his 2012 EP The Backing Singer. It was recorded over a one year period in a studio in Brooklyn. With Long on guitar, Dawson also played bass on the tracks while studio engineer Dave Lindsay played drums.

“Jack and I have a shared love of so much music, and we would talk endlessly about records we love,” Long explains. “Jack, like myself, is a feel guy so we were never too picky about tone or instruments. The album is basically a reflection of our friendship and love of songs. Jack really added his own colours and personality to the album, and it’s definitely the best thing I’ve ever done. Of course, I always feel that the new one is the best one, but I feel pretty strongly about this one. I really love creating and writing. It feels as magical today as it did when I was a child.”

Tour Dates in support of Sultans:

March 1 – NYC – City Winery Loft
March 2 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
March 6 – New Haven, CT – Cafe Nine
March 7 – Portland, ME – Portland Empire
March 8 – Cambridge, MA – Club Passim
March 16 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
March 22 – Asheville, NC – Fat Tire Friday, New Belgium Brewery
March 24 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
April 5 – Fort Collins, CO – Fat Tire Friday, New Belgium Brewery
April 11 – Austin, TX – Cactus Cafe
April 12 – Dallas, TX – Poor David’s Pup
April 13 – Oklahoma City, OK – Blue Door
April 16 – St. Louis, MO – Duck Room at Blueberry Hill
April 17 – Des Moines, IA – Gaslamp
April 18 – Davenport, IA – Raccoon Motel
April 19 – Fort Atkinson, WI – Cafe Carpe

Tickets will go on sale shortly. More U.S. shows will be announced soon.

Connect with Bobby on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.