Black Lab front man Paul Durham announced last month in a fan newsletter that the band has begun work on the next Black Lab record, the band’s first new album in over two years.  While fans may be anxious for another release from the band, Durham seemed cautious about a release in the near future during a recent interview with Alternative Addiction.

“It’s been going really slowly, which I don’t think fans will be surprised by,” Durham admitted.  “There’s a sound in my head that I am trying to get out, but its not even a sound, its more like a feeling.”

Durham always insisting on pushing himself and the band to different levels musically isn’t satisfied with releasing another album that sounds like what they’ve released in the past.  To accomplish that is admittedly going to be a struggle for Durham.

“Getting to that new feeling, with the same set of tools that I have had in the past, I have to kind of, not just write new songs but generate new tools or grow in some way,” Durham struggled to explain.  “We should have just been like Nickelback and made the same record every 14 months, we would be huge rock stars now!”

If there is one thing that Durham will not change, its his interaction with fans by utilizing digital media, something that Black Lab embraced before just about anyone else did.  This album will be no exception, as the bands MP3 of the Month Club will be utilized to share the band’s progress on the album every month.

“It’s been really interesting to get opinions from people,” said Durham of the feedback from fans about the new tracks.  “It’s more of a communal process, which is sort of how it would be if we were playing these songs live on stage every night.”

Aside from working on the new album, Durham is also considering a radio campaign to push “Mine Again” the single from the band’s previous release, to radio.

“I know a couple of DJs who want to send it out and let people in the business know that we have a new song,” Durham explained.  “There are a couple of stations playing it and having really good luck with it.”

The single was never worked on radio in 2007 when the band’s album Passion Leaves A Trace was released.  Durham said that he feels like the song has the potential of doing well at radio, but at the same time he didn’t want the campaign to distract him from working on the new record.
 
“I might do that if I feel really ambitious and actually willing to sit down at my computer and do that.  I tend to try and stay away from anything that sounds like it could be a lot of work, I’ve been really spoiled lately just being able to make music.”

Fans can follow Durham’s process on the new record and sign up for the MP3 Of the Month Club on the band’s website at: http://blacklabworld.com/

Listen to Alternative Addiction’s Interview with Black Lab