February 27, 2007 22:09

Tim Finn discusses new album

'Imaginary Kingdom' tackles weighty subjects

Tim Finn will release his latest solo effort, 'Imaginary Kingdom', in the US on April 24.

The former member of Split Enz and honourary member of Crowded House was about to embark on a tour of the UK and Europe supporting the new album when he caught up with NME.COM.

"I was touring a lot with my brother Neil, and during the breaks in the tour, new songs just kept coming through. So I had 23 songs I started demoing," Finn explained.

Finn wrote most of the album in his native New Zealand, which he said had a distinct influence on its sound. "Gertrude Stein said, 'People are the way their land and sky is.' I think that's true. Most of my writing was influenced by New Zealand's land, light, air and water.

"I wanted to give people the feeling they get when stepping onto a beach," he said.

Finn said he wrote the song 'Salt To The Sea' for Split Enz and Crowded House former drummer Paul Hester, who took his own life in 2005 after battling with depression.

"'Salt To The Sea'' was very much a song for Paul," Finn said. "He lived in my house when I was away in England and we all miss him terribly.

"Each song has its own story, but it's mostly about the fact that the song is still leading me on. I love the form."

As previously announced, Finn will perform with his brother Neil as part of the newly reunited Crowded House at the Coachella Festival in Indio, California on April 29. He will soon announce the dates of a solo US spring tour.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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