Yusuf / Cat Stevens - Making "Roadsinger"

With his reintroduction to the pop world behind him, renowned singer-songwriter Yusuf (the artist known as Cat Stevens) is ready to once again strike up an intimate relationship with his audience. After retreating from the pop stage following classic '70s multi-platinum albums. Yusuf returned in late 2006 with his first pop album in 28 years. "Fans said they wanted to hear more of me with a guitar. So, this album is much more folk-tale oriented. Also, apart from one track, all of it was recorded live. I listened to a lot of '70s L.A. music, such as Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Carole King, and it inspired me to go back into that intimate style of recording. The songs are somewhat autobiographical but abstract enough so everyone can relate to them and connect them to their own lives."

"I was absent from my audience for so long," Yusuf says, "people thought another album would never come. I'm back to doing what I do best — painting pictures with music and storytelling on a very human, personal, intuitive level through lyrics and song, so I can help people feel good again.

Yusuf's return to his guitar came about when his teenage artist-musician son, Muhammad (aka Yoriyos), brought one home again. One morning, Yusuf was alone in the lounge when he looked over and felt a draw of curiosity overtake him. He slowly picked it up. "I put my fingers on the fretboard to make a 'C' chord," he remembers, "and surprised myself, 'It's still there!' It felt right. So I started playing again. It was my son who sparked the next step. He said, 'Isn't it time to start recording a new album?' And it was." For one of music's most extraordinary artists, the journey continues.

For more info goto: http://www.catstevens.com

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Music

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• cat stevens
• yusuf
• roadsinger
• yoriyos
• joni mitchell
• james taylor
• carole king