This past Friday, July 18, Gavin Rossdale and Bush released the group's 10th album, I Beat Loneliness. I connected with Gavin at his home in Los Angeles.

Alan Cross: The new Bush album is entitled I Beat Loneliness. You look at that on the surface, and it seems like the most autobiographical title of all time, is it?Gavin Rossdale: Yeah, I think so. I forced myself to ask what was important to me. It led me to re-evaluate myself, what I thought would be satisfying to investigate. I just went on deep dives, every song is a different experiment, sonically, musically. I still keep myself 25 per cent madly ignorant of music. I just hear things differently because I'm just feral like that. But a little bit of spill gives it the source, gives it the blood.

So yeah, this record is very autobiographical. What's wild is when you reach the inner caves of your sick mind, you start saying things that resonate with other people who have sick minds, which, by the way, is everyone. Story continues below advertisement Everyone, I believe, is dealing with their sort of madness. And it should be commended for finding a way through and being positive and returning the next day to continue where they left off the day before. I think that's why I'm writing records for regular people who bash through lives, good days, bad days, in different ways, and just bash on regardless.I don't like this aspirational life. I hate social media; everyone's got a better life than I have. I hate that I look at it and I'm like, is my life good enough? And I'm like, your life is great. Stop looking at that BS. More on Entertainment More videos Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after Coldplay 'kiss cam' video Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' is being cancelled, CBS cites 'financial decision' Suspect in killing of 'American Idol' music supervisor charged with murder Manitoba to spend $2M on upgrades to Spruce Woods Provincial Park Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after Coldplay 'kiss cam' video Thousands come out for first night of 2025 Celebration of Light in Vancouver Saturday Sips: International Tequila Day Abbotsford Agrifair in need of funds AC: I have exactly the same problem. Yet I am completely compelled to go back to social media and doomscroll several times a day. It's not that I feel that my life is terrible. It's just that I think it's almost a desire to make my life worse by seeing exactly what's going on in the world.GR: What feeds into your inner paranoia is not having your act together when it's impossible to have your act together completely, comprehensively, day in, day out. It is an unfair burden that we place on each other.

Comparison is a thief of joy. So, I say don't compare. My life is amazing, but all I've got to do is think of Coldplay, and I mess myself up for the whole day because I'll never have their life. Story continues below advertisement I think life is miserable enough without being miserable in it. Life is endlessly magical and endlessly infuriating. It's just a balance, and you find your way through it, I believe. It's really great to write a record that feels somewhat confessional, as to say, hey, this isn't easy, but it's so worth it. It's so worth it.AC: Years ago, you told me that you start writing songs on a bass. Is that still the case? Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. GR: It can be. But with the advent of studios, I can also put some nice atmospheric keyboards. All these songs were different experiments in me and my studio, just seeing what could be interesting and what could be fun and how to entertain myself.

The last three records have all been super detuned. I was like, the old Bush is back, but no, it's actually completely different music. And I think that across this record (I Beat Loneliness) there's no wasted space. Story continues below advertisement AC: How was the Canadian tour?GR: Incredible. I had to play Kelowna, Victoria...I have nothing to compare it to. The expanse of the land is just awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, amazing.AC: The '90s seem to be the decade that is immortal when it comes to music. People just cannot get enough of music from the 1990s. What do you attribute that to? It's not just people who grew up at that time, but also Millennials and Gen Zs who are just discovering music today.GR: The innocence, I suppose. The innocence of making music that was actually going to last through time. It was - as always, it had a sense of revolution to it. It was somewhat the music of complaints. Railing against authority, railing against people, standing up for your rights, the end of misogyny.

There was a time when I was really daunted. I never got Zeppelin. Musically, I love them, but the lyrics never got me. I was a young