Gary Kemp is a devotee of music. Songwriter for the iconic Spandau Ballet in the 1980s, more recent years have seen and heard him as the guitarist and co-frontman of Nick Mason’s rock band Saucerful of Secrets.

Twenty-five years ago he released a first solo album titled “Little Bruises”, making his new and second album, “Insolo”, a milestone in his long and successful career. For 2021, Kemp has written and produced an album that focuses on two dominant themes: the paradox of loneliness in an urban landscape and his growing obsession with life seen through a rearview mirror and how the past infects our present.

“[This album] has a difference of 25 years [from the last], so my whole approach to writing is very different now, ”Kemp said in an interview with Music Geek.

“I’m very proud of Little Bruises. I think it’s still a good album for me. I just think I’m in a different space now. I think I’ve had the experience of working with Nick over the last few years. Mason from Pink Floyd and developing or coming a lot more to the front as a guitarist and singer, feeling more confident. Motivated as opposed to the song. I play all the guitars on this album than I did on Little Bruises. ”

Insolo’s first track is the bright and airy ‘Ahead Of The Game’ with 70’s accents. About the track, Kemp says: “Richard Jones added the bass. Besides being a friend, Richard is a amazing player and I’ve worked with him before so we had easy language. He loves late 70s pop and I felt some of that influence in this track. Building the backing vocals on this album my references were still from that time – Wings, 10cc and Supertramp. ”

As songwriter and guitarist of the Spandau Ballet – one of the most famous groups of the 1980s – Kemp has grown into one of the most successful writers of the decade. Spandau recorded 23 hit singles during his career and spent a combined total of over 500 weeks on the UK charts, achieving over 25 million album sales worldwide. Some of their songs, like “True”, “Gold” and “Through the Barricades” have become standards. True has produced over five million plays in North America alone, and “Gold” was the appropriate soundtrack for the London 2012 Olympics.

He is also an accomplished stage and film actor with critical and commercial success in films such as “The Krays”, “The Bodyguard” and the BBC television comedy “The Kemps – All True” with his brother Martin. On stage, he was part of the Jamie Lloyd Theater Company in London’s West End.

As a member of Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, Kemp performs early Pink Floyd tracks around the world with immense success. His co-leader in the group with Guy Pratt who is also his presenter partner on the Apple # 1 podcast “The Rockonteurs”.

Given decades of experience, music still excites Kemp at this point in his life.

“You know, I have two phases. When I act, I get very excited about the actors, and I go to the theater a lot and I watch it. At the moment, I devour the music. good music that is coming from America right now. [from] women. I’m as excited about the release of Bruce Springsteen’s new album as anyone.

“In fact, music means more to me now. I’m more inspired by music now. I’m going through phases where I can’t stand what’s going on. It also means with nostalgia, like all of us. There is a certain time in my life when I hit puberty, and music gave me an identity, starting in the 80s with the desire to create the next big thing on my own. Music has been my complete roadmap .I pick up the guitar and go to the piano every day.If I feel depressed about something, this is the instrument I’m going to.

“I never thought I’d sell a record that would break a new act at my age 30 years after my debut,” Kemp concluded.