The pop icon tells NME about what shaped her first solo album in seven years, the original inspiration and resurgence of 'What You Waiting For?' and the chances of seeing No Doubt at Glastonbury Gwen Stefani has shared new single ‘Swallow My Tears’, as well as telling NME about her new solo album ‘Bouquet ‘ – her first in seven years – and the future of No Doubt . When she was a teenager growing up in Orange County, California, Stefani and her brother Eric – a founding member of No Doubt who left in 1995 – got heavily into Madness , The Selecter and other British ska bands. But for her new album, Stefani looked back even further, to childhood car journeys spent listening to classic hits by Eagles , Steely Dan and Chicago .
New single ‘Swallow My Tears’ is a cathartic, guitar-led anthem designed ofor the open road. Stefani explained that making ‘Bouquet’ was often a piecemeal process involving concentrated bursts of creativity. The singer and fashion designer has three sons with her former husband, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale , whom she divorced in 2015.
“I don’t go to the studio every day and just self-indulge in like, ‘What do I have to say today?’ It’s like, hey, they’re at school, I got three hours so let’s see if I can get down there to write,'” she said. Stefani has shared a smattering of solo singles since 2020, including last year’s alt rock-influenced ‘True Babe’ and the country rock-tinged ‘Somebody Else’s ‘. But s.