Damien Rice's latest effort, My Favourite Faded Fantasy, came out last week, making it the first release from the Irish songwriter in eight years. The "I Don't Want to Change You" singer recruited legendary producer Rick Rubin for his third studio release, and the pair's work has been receiving tons of praise. In a new interview with Billboard, Rice talked about the partnership that brought him out of hiding.
"Rick's approach was fluid when I was stuck, and solid when I needed some tying down," he said. "A kite needs to be tied down in order to fly. I learned how important restrictions can sometimes be in order to experience freedom."
The whole process helped the singer grow as an artist as well. "The best restriction I learned was getting into the habit of doing something, even if I didn't feel like it, instead of running away from it," he added. "Sometimes good work needs to be earned and when you can overcome yourself, the muse notices and celebrates."
Rice said that he began writing songs like "The Greatest Bastard" and the title track in 2010, eventually crafting a tracklist of eight for the new album.
Last month, the songwriter performed for the first time on U.S. soil in awhile, opting for a church in Los Angeles and minimal production. Billboard described the show as "spellbinding, captivating, riveting, mesmerizing, dazzling." Rice went on to address his new found appreciation for performing older material at recent shows.
"I still enjoy singing those songs and I really appreciate the experiences that led to those songs," he said. "No matter how painful or frustrating it may have felt at the time, I wouldn't change a thing. Truth is, I can't change a thing, so that's a relief."
