Frank Turner has revealed he’s deliberately slowing down after the release of his tenth album Undefeated.
The 44-year-old musician finally feels free from the constant cycle of recording and touring that has defined most of his career.
He exclusively told ContactMusic.com: “Undefeated was my 10th record, and I genuinely think it’s one of the best records I’ve ever made. I have a luxury right now, which is that I don’t need to make another record right now.”
Frank explained that he’s spent years locked into a relentless rhythm of “touring, recording, releasing,” but for the first time he’s allowing himself to step back and enjoy not having a deadline hanging over him.
He’s still writing, though his recent influences have drifted toward “the kind of Trad folk-country world” in both listening and songwriting.
Even so, he’s determined not to create an album simply because it’s expected.
He explained: “I don’t want to make a record because that’s what I do… That doesn’t feel very artistic to me.”
Frank noted that Undefeated itself came together in a sudden burst.
He said: “I wrote most of Undefeated in the space of a month… then suddenly just went ‘blah’!”
And, he expects inspiration will strike in a similar way again. Until then, he’s not forcing anything: “I already have enough fucking trouble writing set list as it is! I can give it some space.”
Frank added that he wants to reconnect with writing for its own sake, not for radio play or external expectations.
He said: “Writing because I want to write, rather than writing because I have to write… Finding that place where the writing is coming from a more kind of natural, honest place.”
Part of that shift has come from experimenting outside his usual process.
At his partner’s encouragement, he’s begun writing poetry — something entirely new for him.
He explained: “The act of writing without music in mind… it’s so liberating to write words without having to think about the chord changes underneath them.”
Some pieces may eventually become songs, but for now, the freedom is the point.
He concluded: “I just find that hugely liberating. So, I want to make sure that I’m writing for the right reasons.”
Frank and Bowling For Soup are hitting the road in May, June and July for co-headline tours across Australia and the UK.
Full dates for Bowling For Soup x Frank Turner – Bowl My Bones UK Tour 2026:
June 25 – Margate, Dreamland
June 26 – Southampton, TK Maxx Presents Southampton Summer Sessions
June 27 – Lincoln, TK Maxx Presents Live at Lincoln Castle
June 29 – Glasgow, O2 Academy Glasgow
June 30 – Halifax, TK Maxx Presents Live at The Piece Hall
July 2 – Scarborough, TK Maxx Presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre
July 3 – Llangollen, TK Maxx Presents Live at Llangollen Pavillion
July 4 – Cardiff, TK Maxx Presents Depot Live at Cardiff Castle
July 5 – St. Austell, Eden Sessions
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