Pete Wentz just really wants Rihanna on Fall Out Boy's new album
The guys from Fall Out Boy are hard at work finishing M A N I A, which was recently pushed back from its original release date of September 15 to January 19.
Pete Wentz, however, took some time out from the studio to talk with Billboard about some influences that may be present on the album, as well as his wish list for guest vocalists—and you'll be suprised who he wants.
Read more: Hear Fall Out Boy perform on ‘Teen Titans Go!’
In response to the postponement, Wentz says “We're a lot further along on it, but we pushed it back,” and says that the guys are around six songs into the album that will likely be ten songs long.
Fall Out Boy have been sonically evolving since their conception, but Wentz promises that the new album won't be as “sonically a left turn” as the two singles that we've already heard (“Champions” and “Young and Menace”) make it seem, however noting that it is “our job as artists to evolve.”
Wentz comments that “When you've been doing this for 15 years with the same guys it's hard to find something fresh. Fresh ideas are hard and it's really inspiring to be around kids who do have that.” The band are working with Illangelo, a producer and songwriter who you may know from collaborations with The Weeknd, once again bridging a genre gap like Fall Out Boy are known for.
Wentz also notes that global music has been a big influence on this album.
“The thing I point to now more than anything is we're listening to a lot more music happening worldwide,” he says. “The thing I love about the globalization of music is I'm listening to beats that this kid in Lagos made… that would have never happened before.”
Wentz name drops Nigerian singer WizKid, who collaborated with Drake on “One Dance” and rising Nigerian star, Mr Eazi as some of the global music he's been spinning lately.
As far as guest spots on the album, Wentz says that they haven't locked down any yet, but that he's still hoping to work with Rihanna—a collab he's been trying to secure for over a decade.
While these influences and collabs may be unexpected, Wentz confirms that Fall Out Boy will be working on half of the songs with a beloved alternative producer, Dave Sardy (Nine Inch Nails, Barkmarket).
“That's what our band needs… a foot in the future and a foot in the past,” Wentz says. “To balance the record. What's interesting with Fall Out Boy is we have guitar, drums and bass, but we're finding ways to incorporate other ideas. What I liked about The Clash was how they used and twisted those influences.”
We'd love to hear Rihanna on a Fall Out Boy track. Who else do you hope to hear as a guest vocalist on M A N I A? Sound off in the comments below!
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