After the release of the last Young Jesus LP, 2022's Shepherd Head, John Rossiter stepped away from his music career.

Rossiter had played in the band since high school, but after working so hard at his career for well over a decade, he decided to study permaculture and work in gardens.

"In the past I really wanted to have a career in music. [I thought]: 'if I only do these things, all of a sudden I'll have my life as an artist!'" Rossiter recounts.

"I felt really disenchanted by life in the music scene and in the music industry. I felt much more alive when I was outside helping build gardens and learning with my hands. I felt music had become so much about the computer on my last record."

Through gardening —and through serendipity— Rossiter's path would connect with a host of new musicians, like Shahzad Ismaily, Alex Babbitt and Alex Lappin. They'd become key figures for what would turn out to be the sixth Young Jesus LP, The Fool.

Working with an edict to "follow instinct, follow synchronicity, follow strange pathways," Rossiter sought to make a record centred around the piano, around collaboration, around the sharing of music. The songs were open to go wherever.

"I didn't expect I would write an album about guilt and shame," Rossiter offers. "And I didn't expect to write about David and Eloise, these characters that I hadn't written about in 15 years."

In conversation with Anthony Carew on The International Pop Underground, Rossiter lays his heart out talking about a record where he lays his heart out.

Feature image: Caitlin Dennis