Collective Soul Bassist Will Turpin Releases Solo Album

Photo Credit: Paul Warner

There’s good news in the Collective Soul world. The melodic hard rock group known for its stellar live show is performing on Aug. 11 at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. It’s a great co-headlining bill with 3 Doors Down that also includes Soul Asylum.

Meanwhile, bassist Will Turpin in June released his debut full-length solo album, “Serengeti Drivers.” The intensely personal disc features songs about Turpin’s roles as husband, father and son. Many of the songs were written around the time his wife, Donna, was diagnosed with breast cancer. “Serengeti Drivers” is the follow-up to Turpin’s 2011 debut EP, “The Lighthouse.”

Musically, “Serengeti Drivers” is a mix of melodic, acoustic and electric fare, less heavy yet just as immediate and impactful as Collective Soul’s music. Turpin plays guitar on the album. Standout tracks include “Demons,” which features an uplifting groove and catchy keyboards; and the gorgeous, delicate ballads “Make It Home” and “Fallen Castle.”

We recently spoke with Turpin about “Serengeti Drivers” as well as some exciting news regarding Collective Soul’s next album.

What was the writing process like for Serengeti Drivers? Did you work with music you had written over the years or did you write the album all at once?

The songs come in some kind of lightning bolt moment, not piece by piece. I wrote Serengeti Drivers exploring a lot about the balance of life. My wife was diagnosed with cancer while I was doing this album and it’s reflected in the record. On “Fallen Castle” I wasn’t sure I would be able to record it because it was so personal. But it was also therapeutic to open myself up and let that part of me out there.

Musically speaking, “Serengeti Drivers” features more acoustic instrumentation and touches on a number of musical styles.

I’ve always been a multi-instrumentalist and influenced by a number of different artists. All kinds of different musicians have come through [Turpin’s father’s studio] Reel 2 Reel. Gospel, rock-and-roll, R&B, country, bluegrass. You hear those influences on the album.

Where does the album title come from?

It’s from a dream sequence I had. I was in the desert walking all alone but I didn't have this feeling of being lost and being afraid. I was totally confident and comfortable walking by myself. In every dream I’d see a group of friends, always musicians, driving by in a car and that was the happiest moment. So that’s where “Serengeti Drivers” comes from, that dream sequence in the desert with my friends driving past me.

This summer you’re on tour with 3 Doors Down and Soul Asylum (the show is at PNC Bank Arts Center Aug. 11). What comes next for Collective Soul?

We have big plans for 2019. We have more than 20 tunes and we’ll be celebrating 25 years next year. We’re doing to do a double album, which should be released by the middle of next summer.

https://www.willturpin.com/

www.collectivesoul.com