Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos is feeling good, but not too good—he’s off booze until his birthday in March. “I’m going for a sober release party,” he laughs. “Maybe I’ll just carry around a really hot tea like I’m at a club.” His new album with the band, Always Ascending, is set to drop, and it’s more than just a new record—it’s a reinvention.
When founding member Nick McCarthy left, it shook the band to its core, but Kapranos didn’t see it as the end. “We knew about it long before it was public,” he says. “It felt liberating, actually. It was like—okay, we’re allowed to try something new now.” The result? A disco-driven, dancefloor-ready album that keeps Franz Ferdinand’s signature energy intact while moving into fresh territory. Bringing in producer Philippe Zdar (of Cassius fame) was key, with his knack for capturing raw, live energy while still pushing the sound forward. “He doesn’t make everything sound robotic,” Kapranos says. “He loves the natural shifts and human imperfections.”
One unexpected inspiration for the album’s rhythmic pulse? Greek folk music. Kapranos, whose father is Greek, grew up hearing these ancient dance songs that date back thousands of years. “There’s something primal about how they build and release tension,” he explains. “It made me realize that dance music has always been about this—finding a state of elevation. It just made sense to draw on that.”
Lyrically, Always Ascending veers into new territory, too. Instead of sticking with personal stories, the band created fictional characters to explore ideas—like “Lois Lane,” inspired by the iconic journalist. “Superman’s a total drip,” Kapranos quips. “She’s the real hero, and the song’s about seeing journalism as a force for change.” Then there’s “Huck and Jim,” a modern reimagining of Mark Twain’s classic duo that also nods to political themes. “It’s about two characters navigating a messed-up world together,” he says. “There’s something timeless and heartbreakingly relevant about that story.”
Kapranos doesn’t shy away from the political side of things, either. Growing up in the UK, he’s seen his share of social struggles and can’t help but notice the parallels with America’s current climate. “It’s like we’re repeating history,” he says. “We’re getting small-minded and xenophobic again—like we didn’t learn the first time.”
But in the end, he’s more interested in how people feel when they hear the music. “It’s a dance record,” he says with a smile. “It’s supposed to feel good, even if it’s got some weight to it.” As far as that sober release party goes? “I’ll just be there with my tea, dancing like an idiot.”
Listen to the interview above and then check out "Always Ascending" below!
