On tour promoting his second album in as many years, singer-songwriter Jake Bugg returned to The Current last week to perform an intimate show inside Minnesota Public Radio's UBS Forum.

Bugg, at only 19 years old, has already seen his career take off at an incredible pace; his first full-length debuted at No. 1 in the U.K. album charts, and Bugg subsequently embarked on a U.S. tour, opening for none other than Noel Gallagher.

The new album by Jake Bugg, released in November 2013, is called Shangri La, and it was produced by Rick Rubin in Malibu, Calif.; the time Bugg spent on the album was a welcome break from touring. "After travelling around, it was nice to stay in one place," Bugg tells The Current's Mark Wheat between songs. The process of recording Shangri La also afforded Bugg the opportunity to visit the legendary Crossroads in Clarksdale, Miss.; to record at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tenn.; and to go to Nashville, Tenn., where he collaborated on songwriting with Brendan Benson.

Despite his fast trajectory, Bugg remains humble if not slightly bemused about his career so far. He's not one to complain about much, realizing if he weren't pursuing music, he'd just be "back in my bedroom on the council estate" — a term equivalent to the U.S. term, "public housing project."

Listen to the full interview and live in-studio session, in which Bugg performs two songs off the new album, a hit off his first release and a cover in tribute to the late Phil Everly.

Songs Performed

"Slumville Sunrise"*
"Cathy's Clown"
"Me and You"*
"Lightning Bolt"

*These songs off the new album, Shangri La, out now on Island Records. "Cathy's Clown" by Don and Phil Everly. "Lightning Bolt" off Jake Bugg's self-titled album, released in the U.S. on Island Records.

Hosted by Mark Wheat
Produced by Lindsay Kimball
Engineered by Michael DeMark and Erik Stromstad
Web feature by Luke Taylor

External Link

Jake Bugg - official site

Gallery

Fullscreen SlidePrevious Slide

7 of 7

1 of 7

2 of 7

Next Slide