Joe Jackson Shares Songwriting Tips & Why It's Beneficial to Make Songs With a 'Demo Mindset'

The veteran musician discusses the intuitive process behind his new album 'Hope and Fury' and how he avoids getting stuck in the studio.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:24pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of shattered, glittering glass fragments reflecting warm, golden light, conceptually representing the vibrant, multifaceted nature of Joe Jackson's musical career.The shattered remnants of Joe Jackson's musical legacy glimmer with the energy of his enduring artistry.Poughkeepsie Today

In a new interview, veteran musician Joe Jackson discusses the intuitive process behind his new album 'Hope and Fury,' explaining how he avoids getting stuck in the studio by embracing a 'demo mindset' and not overthinking the songwriting. Jackson also shares insights on his diverse musical style, the benefits of referencing past work, and his thoughts on 'cancel culture' as reflected in the album's defiant track 'I'm Not Sorry'.

Why it matters

Joe Jackson's career has spanned nearly 50 years and 22 studio albums, showcasing his ability to seamlessly blend a wide range of musical styles from rock to jazz to Latin rhythms. His candid discussion of his intuitive songwriting process and willingness to incorporate demo recordings provides a unique behind-the-scenes look at how an acclaimed artist continues to evolve and create fresh material after decades in the industry.

The details

Jackson recorded 'Hope and Fury' with his core band, including longtime bassist Graham Maby, guitarist Teddy Kumpel, and drummer Doug Yowell, as well as percussionist Paulo Stagnaro. The album was started at Fuzz Factory in Berlin, with the demos turning out so well that Jackson was able to use many of them on the final record. He explains that embracing a 'demo mindset' and not getting overly precious about perfection in the studio has been beneficial, allowing him to avoid getting stuck in an 'endless tunnel' of endless re-recording. The album features several semi-autobiographical tracks, including 'Fabulous People' which references the keyboard tone he used on his hit 'Steppin' Out.' Another song, 'After All This Time,' is built around relationship cliches that Jackson then subverts. The defiant 'I'm Not Sorry' is described as Jackson's 'answer to cancel culture,' refusing to apologize for his choices.

  • Jackson's new album 'Hope and Fury' is set to be released on April 10, 2026.
  • Jackson and his band will embark on a tour starting on May 11, 2026 in Poughkeepsie, New York, with shows in the U.S. through mid-July, followed by European dates in the fall.

The players

Joe Jackson

A veteran musician who has released 22 studio albums over the course of his 47-year career, blending a diverse range of musical styles including rock, jazz, and Latin rhythms.

Graham Maby

Jackson's longtime bassist who has played on many of his albums.

Teddy Kumpel

Jackson's guitarist who has collaborated with him on multiple projects.

Doug Yowell

Jackson's drummer who is part of his core band.

Paulo Stagnaro

A percussionist who contributed to Jackson's new album 'Hope and Fury'.

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What they’re saying

“I never go into an album with a plan or a concept. I'm always trying to tell people this whole thing is very intuitive, and everyone seems to think it's all planned and there's a concept and an ideological reason why I do things in a certain way. It's hard to convince people otherwise.”

— Joe Jackson

“The demos turned out so well I was able to use a lot of them on the album. The advantage of the technology we have now is if I like something I did on the demo, it can be emailed to New York and become part of the album. That was the case even with lead vocals; I thought I was going to have to do them all over again, but as I listened back to them I kept thinking, 'I don't know how to do this any better. I don't think I can.' I think half of the lead vocals are actually demo vocals. I like that...because you can really get sucked into a sort of endless tunnel in the studio, sometimes, where you think nothing's good enough and you end up never finishing up anything. If you have a demo mindset — I like that, that'll do, let's move on — it can be beneficial.”

— Joe Jackson

“It's kind of my answer to cancel culture. I think the key line to it is at the end, this idea that there's no point in apologizing to someone when that's want they want. They want to make you their bitch.”

— Joe Jackson

What’s next

Jackson and his band will embark on an extensive tour starting in May 2026, with shows in the U.S. through mid-July and then European dates in the fall. He is also considering adding Australia to the tour schedule.

The takeaway

Joe Jackson's candid discussion of his intuitive and experimental approach to songwriting, as well as his willingness to embrace new technologies and avoid getting bogged down in the studio, provides valuable insights into how a veteran artist continues to evolve and create fresh material decades into their career. His ability to blend diverse musical styles and subvert expectations through tracks like 'After All This Time' and 'I'm Not Sorry' further cement his reputation as an innovative and versatile songwriter.