Peter Gabriel's Lunar Release Strategy: A Closer Look at 'A Hard Lesson' and the Road to o\\i
Peter Gabriel is unveiling a new single on every full moon at midnight as part of the lead-up to his upcoming studio album, o\\i. The latest single, A Hard Lesson, is a dark and brooding track that is being released in two versions: The Mike 'Spike' Stent Bright Side Mix is out now, with The Dark-Side Mix set to be released on the next new moon. Gabriel is following a similar release strategy to his 2023 i/o album, with the full album, o\\i, scheduled for release later this year.
Gabriel shared that A Hard Lesson is one of the oldest tracks from the project, dating back to the late 80s or early 90s when he was in Senegal. The song explores themes of finding one's place and fitting in, drawing inspiration from the music he encountered in Senegal. Despite being in the works for several decades, the track has finally come to fruition, incorporating contributions from various collaborators over the years.
The song has undergone multiple iterations, with Tony Berg and David Rhodes adding guitar parts, Richard Evans experimenting with an industrial version, and Mike Elizondo co-producing the latest version and contributing a fat bassline. The track also features organic instruments like mandolin, adding depth and texture to the composition. A Hard Lesson is the fourth single released by Gabriel this year, following What Lies Ahead, Been Undone, and Put The Bucket Down.
Each single release is accompanied by a piece of art, with A Hard Lesson featuring a still from Francis Alÿs' 1997 film Cuentos Patrióticos. The image depicts civil servants making sheep noises in protest during a 1968 event in Mexico City, adding a visual layer of meaning to the song. Gabriel was drawn to the image's symbolism of place and felt it resonated with the themes of the track. The full film by Francis Alÿs can be viewed alongside the new Gabriel video.
As Gabriel continues to unveil new singles on each full moon, fans can look forward to the release of o\\i and immerse themselves in the evolving soundscape of his latest musical project. Stay tuned for more updates and releases from Peter Gabriel as he shares his creative journey with listeners around the world.