"When the band split, I just needed a break. I took five years but I got pulled back into music. It's been a struggle. That's the main thing. I want it to be great, but I've got the pressure of having been in R.E.M. and it's a high bar, because I want this to be as good as that, and that's near impossible."
"Covid didn't help, but I'm finishing it. It's taken longer than I wanted. I still have to finish lyrics for eight songs on the album, and I'm aiming for a release by the end of the year."
Michael Stipe has struggled to complete his debut solo album since releasing his first single in 2019. In an interview with Times of London, he attributes the delay to perfectionism and the burden of following R.E.M.'s success. Though COVID-19 contributed to the setback, Stipe took a five-year break after the band's split before returning to music. He still needs to finish lyrics for eight songs and aims to release the album by year's end. Despite the album's slow progress, Stipe has remained active, recently performing R.E.M. songs at tribute shows and contributing to Steve Carrell's HBO comedy theme.
Read at Vulture
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