When in Jamaica, No Doubt do as the Jamaicans do.
The bandmembers are kicking it reggae style as they record their fifth album on the “Island in the Sun.”
“[Bassist] Tony [Kanal] and I have been playing tons of crazy, dub-sounding keyboard tracks on all the demos,” guitarist Tom Dumont wrote in an e-mail interview Thursday.
Their new duties have resulted in “a noticeable lack of guitar and bass” in the sound, he said.
After laying down a handful of tracks in Los Angeles, No Doubt hopped a plane to the Caribbean to collaborate with a few of Jamaica’s renowned producers. The band was scheduled to begin sessions Friday (March 30) with Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare, who have produced music for such reggae artists as Peter Tosh as well as rock legends Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones.
The foursome has 11 songs written for the effort, which it hopes to release by the end of the year. The album is the follow-up to Return of Saturn (2000).
“We’re just going to keep recording from this point and maybe write a few more tunes out here as well,” Dumont wrote. “Jamaica is so amazing I can’t even believe it!”
No Doubt recorded three songs, “In My Head,” “Give a Little Love” and “Hella Good,” with Virginia production duo Neptunes (Mystikal, Jay-Z, Ol’ Dirty Bastard).
Neptune Pharrell Williams said the material is “definitely different” for No Doubt, adding that the songs are “a little more classic-sounding.”
“It turned out hot,” he said. “It has a dope, unique sound – a classic sound.”
Dumont said the songs with the Neptunes are “totally slammin’.”
“This record’s going to be very eclectic, with collaborations and producers from all over the map.”
