‘The first time I’ve shared my experience growing up with red hair’ | The Amazons give us a track-by-track breakdown of 21st Century Fiction

The Amazons dive deep into 21st Century Fiction, their most introspective and furious album yet. Matt Thomson shares the emotional journey behind each track in this exclusive breakdown.

by whynow |
The Amazons - credit Jess Greaves

21st Century Fiction is a defining moment for The Amazons – a record that feels like both a reflection and a new beginning for the band. After three successful albums, this one represents a bold leap forward, both musically and emotionally.

Their fourth album is a powerhouse of aggression, the band’s most daring leap yet. After a string of Top 10 records and global sold-out shows, Matt Thomson and his bandmates are preparing to face the chaos head-on once more.

“I’m very aware of where we are in the cultural conversation,” Thomson admits, reflecting on the band’s shifting sound. 21st Century Fiction is a fiery declaration of intent. Lyrically, the album chronicles a man in his late twenties, battling against unrealistic ideals of masculinity and unfulfilled promises, a theme that resonates deeply in a world that often feels on the brink of collapse. Thomson grapples with addiction, destructive cycles of behaviour, and the fear of what’s next.

In this track-by-track breakdown, Thomson opens up about the creative process and emotions behind the record.

The Amazons Main - Lauren Luxenberg
Credit: Lauren Luxenberg

Living A Lie

21st Century Fiction is our first, true bid for redemption. ‘Living A Lie’ is the first step on that road. It’s admittance and acceptance. It’s looking in the mirror and saying, no, something’s not right. Time to make a change.

Night After Night

I wanted to start with something like ‘IGOR’s Theme’ by Tyler, The Creator. It, of course, took on its own life, but that’s where I began: with the loop. This was an experiment in starting a song the way a producer would, instead of writing on guitar or piano, and letting the music inform the lyrics. I was inspired by its unrelenting repetition. It made me think of the cycles of behaviour I’ve been stuck in for the last decade, unable to resolve.

Pitch Black

In U2’s ‘Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of’, Bono sings to a friend caught in a rut. Stuck in some darkness with no clear path out. I wanted to write something from the friend’s point of view.

My Blood

Mike was the first person I called to produce 21st Century Fiction. Over the years, he’s become something of a mentor, one of the few people in this industry I can call up and sink away the hours with. I felt this album, and ‘My Blood’ especially, was the right time to dig deeper into that shared language. Any chance to collaborate with artists we respect is one we’ll always take.

‘My Blood’ is an exploration of what keeps us going when everything (and everyone) tells us to stop. When you truly believe in something, you find a way to push beyond the pain. It’s not a thought; it’s a feeling. Something primal. I think that’s when rock & roll is at its best, cornered and gnashing its teeth.

Wake Me Up

How can I live my life to its full potential, under this blanket of addiction? How can I see clearly, while so dependent on distraction?

Joe Bought A Gun

It came from a conversation around earthquakes. LA is well overdue for a big one. It was less the event itself that was causing anxiety, and more the following dissolution of law and order, from looting and conflict over resources. I was surprised by my friend’s resolution to buy a gun for protection. It got me thinking of how fear and anxiety can manipulate our behaviour, to conclusions seemingly at odds with our character.

The Amazons-Bryce Glenn
Credit: Bryce Glen

Love Is A Dog From Hell

Ingredients for ‘Love Is A Dog From Hell’:

Jimmie Rodgers, Dolly Parton, Charles Bukowski, Skylight Books, Los Angeles, 129bpm, the ‘Dusty Valley Boys’, Catherine Marks, Pete Hutchings.

The Heat

This is the first time I’ve been able to articulate some of my experience growing up with red hair. I scrapped a few lines that were a little on the nose, but ultimately I wanted to communicate the prickly heat that comes with being stared at.

Heaven Now

This one started with Mike Kerr, at his and Ben’s studio in Sussex. During one of our COVID promenade walks in Brighton, he mentioned having a melody that reminded him of The Amazons. What people are just starting to realise is how incredible Mike is on the piano. There’s a certain 70’s grandeur in his playing. Mike’s melody struck me as something between Queen and Elton John, so we jammed the idea a bit, and I brought it back to the band for us to shape together.

Lyrically, I’ve always been drawn to that longing for what’s just beyond reach: the thing that promises escape, a better future. What’s on the other side of the horizon? What’s behind the curtain, at the end of the yellow brick road? The promised land? It’s that universal search for something greater than what we have.

Go All The Way

This is a message to myself, and the band, and our friends. We either make our mark now, or never. We can’t go halfway: we have to commit. We have to give ourselves fully. That’s the bare minimum. Anything outside of that is out of our control.

  • Photography credit: Jess Greaves (featured image), Lauren Luxenberg, and Bryce Glenn

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