Sturgill Simpson Explains His Creative Approach to “Passage Du Desir”

Depending on who you talk to, Sturgill Simpson’s new album Passage Du Desir is either a serious Album of the Year contender, or a big letdown. Such is the polarizing environment that persists around Sturgill Simpson these days. To read Saving Country Music’s take, CLICK HERE.
On the day the album was released, an interview with Sturgill was posted in GQ, but it seemed more interested in delving into Sturgill’s travel itinerary over the last couple of years as opposed to the musical process, and left more questions than answers.
Some of those questions persist, but sitting down with the French-based digital music store and streaming service Qobuz (think Apple Music for French folks), Sturgill revealed a lot of good information about his approach to the new album, along with a few other interesting tidbits.
We’re used to Sturgill making concept records, and a question a lot of listeners had with Passage Du Desir is if there was a narrative to unravel.
“I tried to make a cohesive record, but it’s certainly not like an arching, underlying, definitive narrative. It’s just a collection of songs,” Sturgill explains. “I had some pretty impactful things happen in my personal life and lost a lot of people and friends that were dear to me. One person in particular was very important in my life, at one point I found out that she killed herself. So I just decided, you know what, I’ve got to get all this stuff on tape and record it. So we made the record. It was really very simple. I wanted the music to be pure without any gimmicks or over-the-top production. So it was just myself and three other very good studio musicians.”
Though some of the songs on the album are most certainly country, some of the songs are not. Sturgill admits in the interview, “In terms of musical style, it’s a little all over the place, but I feel like it’s the most ‘me’ album I’ve ever made. And then when I put all of the electric guitars and things down on the record, there were no pedals, no effects, just a Les Paul [guitar] and an old Fender Princeton [amp]. And we were at Abbey Road, and that was the only thing in the room, was the guitar amp. I just wanted a really pure tone. Nothing in the way.”
Sturgill says that he didn’t really approach Passage Du Desir with a whole lot of purpose. He also admitted in the interview how he can sometimes be contrarian for contrarian’s sake.
“I didn’t think about this one too much,” he says. “I always had like clear cut, almost like a bulletin board roadmap before you go in [to the studio] because you like to record really fast. But with this one, we had these songs, my engineer was available [David “Fergie” Ferguson], so we made a record. Also because there’s something wrong with me. If something works and it’s successful, I just feel like I don’t deserve it, so I run from it. When people say, ‘This is great, we want more of this,’ my brain is like, ‘No, you can’t have it. I do this now.’ It’s a fault.”
Sturgill also blamed the comparisons some make to him and Waylon Jennings on producer Dave Cobb and his production of Simpson’s debut solo album High Top Mountain, saying that Cobb put him in keys where the similarities would come out as much as possible. “I feel like I’ve been running from that record ever since.” Sturgill says, while saying that he never really listened to Waylon until he met Shooter Jennings.
As for his recent acting roles, including in the Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon, Sturgill says, “It was a great way to kill some time, but it’s not something I feel the need to actively pursue. I’m a musician, and I didn’t find it all that creatively rewarding or gratifying.”
You can see the full interview below.
July 22, 2024 @ 7:46 pm
Great album as far as im concerned okly a letdown if you expect him to stay in the same place amd hes proved on past alboma thar he wouldnr. Only critiscm id habe is that the name change is pointleaa. Sturgill is still one pf my favourotes
July 22, 2024 @ 8:25 pm
Sturgill wouldn’t be anybody without that first album.
July 22, 2024 @ 9:21 pm
I whole heartedly agree. We need to take him off the country music pedestal we put him on. He’s not very good, he really isn’t. He made a phenomenal album. He nailed it and I will love that album forever. High Top gets love too. But everything else is a massive disappointment.
July 23, 2024 @ 5:05 am
Complete and total nonsense.
July 23, 2024 @ 7:57 pm
not really but ok.
July 24, 2024 @ 7:13 pm
He’s been in this Chris Gaines phase for so long that High Top Mountain is but a distant memory
July 22, 2024 @ 8:34 pm
Sounds like a lot more of his great music is on the way.
July 22, 2024 @ 8:52 pm
If this is album of the year I’m living in bizarro world. It’s boring, the whole premise is pretentious, and in no way is this a country album. Good for Sturgill for exploring his artistic side. Bad for us since it sucks.
July 22, 2024 @ 9:00 pm
If you read the comments on the album review, as well as on social media and other accounts, a lot of folks feel this is a very strong release, including many saying “Album of the year” specifically. I also appreciate that some people are not connecting with it at all. That is why I couched it as polarizing in the opening paragraph of this article. I think you can’t deny both those opinions are out there.
July 22, 2024 @ 9:11 pm
I respect everyone’s opinion. Music and any art is appreciated strictly from the eye of the beholder. If you like it, great. But this is a Country music appreciation website and therefore, like Sound and Fury, shouldn’t be considered for album of the year. Nobody that wants to hear some classic, good country music is EVER gonna say, “Hey put on that French Sturgill album, it’s a killer!!!”
July 22, 2024 @ 10:22 pm
Blackwater,
I didn’t specifically say this album would be considered for Album of the Year at Saving Country Music, though it may. What I said is that some people consider it their Album of the year so far, which is an empirically true statement.
“Who I Am” is a 100% full blown country song. “Mint Teas” is a 100% full blown country song. “Swamp of Sadness” and “Scooter Blues” have country elements to them. This is not “Sound and Fury.” It just isn’t.
The reason we’re seeing such diametric takes on this album is because everybody is coming to it with an inherent bias.
July 22, 2024 @ 11:21 pm
I dont think I have a large bias. I went into the album with positive intent and an open mind. I left disappointed. He’s not country royalty. He’s a one album wonder and we need to start treating him as such.
By the way, if anyone hasn’t heard his “Dead Don’t Die” single from that Bill Murray zombie movie, I highly recommend. That’s the stuff that makes me think he might still have it. Then nope, he reminds us he definitely doesn’t.
July 23, 2024 @ 4:29 pm
I’m in the camp that this an Album of the Year contender for me. I really walked into it with little expectations. Sturgill has been so hit or miss for me in his career, it’s hard for me to get amped up for one of his records.
While not every track is a killer, the one’s that are “One for the Road”, “Mint Tea”, “Who I Am” absolutely slay.
July 22, 2024 @ 9:05 pm
Well i would probably say it only has one country song at least to me. I wasnt a fan before and this def didnt make me one but thats ok. He can make whatever albums he wants but his reasoning for things is kind of bizzaro. No need to overcomplicate stuff.
July 22, 2024 @ 9:41 pm
It was the key that the producer made him sing in, that made the guy who used to dress like a 70s country star who cut 2 country albums, sound like the country legend who he’d never really listened to…
Got it.
July 24, 2024 @ 7:57 pm
It has to be a joke at this point.
July 22, 2024 @ 10:59 pm
I’m late to listening to this album. I started playing it tonight. So far it’s a cool album.
July 22, 2024 @ 11:08 pm
There were definitely moments on “Metamodern Sounds” where Sturgill’s singing evoked Waylon Jennings, to my ears. but he had his own sound. If he says that he had not listened much to Waylon, growing up–but had actually listened quite a bit to Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, then why would I disbelieve him. It’s not like he’s been accused of plagiarism or some unethical contact and might need to lie.
July 25, 2024 @ 12:12 pm
High Top Mountain is the one with the direct Waylon vibes, he’s moved away from that ever since. I’m glad he made High Top, but if I wanted to hear Waylon I’d listen to Waylon. I prefer Stu when he’s being himself and I think time will vindicate some iof his choices. People used to hate Neil Young’s “Trans” but now it is considered a fan favorite and his most underrated work.
July 23, 2024 @ 5:28 am
My favourite part about Sturgill Simpson is his attitude. He doesn’t care what you think. He puts out a record, you don’t like it, or you do; He does not care. He’s done something with his existence.
People want to sit on message boards or in comment sections and harp on his music, he does not care.
We saw him in concert and he finished “A Call To Arms”, he walked off the stage. The crowd chanted; “ENCORE!, ENCORE!”, He never came back to the stage! THAT was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in a concert. That alone makes me enjoy his music even more.
I’m not a “stan” by any means but, I can’t say there are any songs or albums that he made that I dislike. I haven’t fully listened to this album yet but I don’t expect anything less or more than his previous works.
July 24, 2024 @ 7:53 am
The cult of personality is strong with Sturgill and some people gravitate toward artists that are plainly just selfish assholes. Forget refusing to do encores, Sturgill stepped out on his wife and kids to lounge on Thai beaches and sip wine in Paris for two years, because he needed to find himself. What a badass.
July 24, 2024 @ 8:16 am
Love how you have insider . It has been part of recent interview that his family has been with him and are currently in living France with him.
Lots of people do not do encores these days.
July 23, 2024 @ 6:05 am
I guess it annoys some people but while I am obviously a country music fan first and foremost, I do also just like good music. I think basically everything sturgill has done is at least good. Sound and fury is obviously not country but man it’s got good writing and great guitar play.
This album is quite good. I’m just grateful a guy like sturgill still exists who is talented but also weird and is in it to make art. People connect to him because he feels genuine. And often that isn’t cohesive. That’s okay. I’m not cohesive either most people aren’t. He just seems in this for the right reasons and he’s a unique talent.
July 23, 2024 @ 1:04 pm
Make Art Not Friends is an absolute killer track. Possibly the best from that album.
July 23, 2024 @ 6:11 am
“I wanted the music to be pure without any gimmicks or over-the-top production. So it was just myself and three other very good studio musicians.”
I think calling the performers on the album “Studio Musicians” blows the band concept for this album. Which still makes me wonder why the album wasn’t just named a Sturgill Simpson solo album. It’s not like he would have been the first musician to declare they were done making albums or retiring only to continue to do just that.
Sturgill’s admittance that he has run from his success, and attempts to do the opposite of what his fans tell him they like, just confirms my opinion that he has seemed directionless for the last few years. The new album thankfully produced a few good songs to add to the Sturgill playlist, but overall comes off as uncertain as his career has been lately.
Maybe he should form an actual band. Bring in some more creative minds to focus his direction if his ego will allow it.
July 23, 2024 @ 2:22 pm
I think the whole, “I’ve ended my solo career, but I reserve the right to be in a band” is dated information at this point, especially after this interview. “Johnny Blue Skies” is the new name he’s recording under. I think this interview establishes that. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to highlight it. Whatever you think of him, he conveyed some important information here.
July 23, 2024 @ 3:09 pm
In all honesty, I didn’t watch the video interview posted here, and I didn’t see it addressed in your story. I’ll try to give it watch when I have a chance. See if it brings some clarity.
July 23, 2024 @ 9:08 pm
I did watch the video. It still seems he’s kinda talking in circles, and trying to explain away the 5 albums comments. Also, tacking his name on the end of Johnny Blue Skies kinda defeats the purpose of not wanting to record under his own name. But I suppose he has his reasons, and I guess making fun of them has run its course.
What was interesting in his interview was the similarities I had with him growing up, discovering music and guitar from family and friends, and reading music and guitar magazines looking for other guitarists. I used to read interviews from guitarists I like to find out who influenced them and then seek out their music. Also going to concerts at a young age including Van Halen. Who would have guessed.
July 23, 2024 @ 6:25 am
I like the album a lot. I think “Mint Tea” is one of the best songs he’s written. It takes more time to absorb but the payoff is worth it. I agree it isn’t country but that’s okay. I appreciate it when an artist takes chances. I would rather not hear him make the same album over and over. He’s too talented for that. I also like the fact that on this album you can finally understand what he’s saying!
July 23, 2024 @ 11:56 am
The first several times I listened I loved it and thought it was an album of the year contender myself but I’ve not listened since the weekend it was released and have no desire to so it’s no longer on my AOY radar. Same thing with the Silverada album I loved it but have no intentions of listening to it again. And after reading this article I like Sturgill the person even less than I did before.
July 23, 2024 @ 4:24 pm
What on earth in this interview could make you “like him even less than I did before”? This is about as white bread with milk that an interview could get.
July 24, 2024 @ 2:34 am
The way he spoke about his first album and how Cobb made him sound like Waylon and he never had listened to Waylon. He gives off the feeling that he never really liked country music and he’s above it he’s too artistic. Pretentious
July 23, 2024 @ 1:04 pm
I have never got the Sturgill thing at all and still don’t. I have wanted to understand what the fuss is about and failed. I just don’t think he is that good and there is so much better around. He just does not live up to the hype for me, nothing special about this album. It is ok. I know others have a completely different view. Everyone to their own.
July 23, 2024 @ 1:08 pm
Surely we dont just listen to country here anyway? If its not a country album then should we be reviewing it and it has country undertones for me anyway, and its probably got more in common with country then the Beyonce record that got reviewed a few months ago?
I dont just listen to country music or Americana anyway and I am sure you guys are more open minded anyway. Theres either good music or bad music .
I think its a bit early to judge the record anyway, I remember the reaction to Sailors Guide To Earth being too far from the first two records. But I think people caught up .
I think the album requires more listening before anyone judges it because Sturgill doesnt play it safe and in my opinion even if its not a country record its just great music. Listening to the interview Sturgill has so many musical influences he was never gonna stay pure country for long .
Melissa Carper hasnt made a pure country record it takes in jazz influences too.
July 23, 2024 @ 1:52 pm
This interview is as awesome as well. He focuses on the sound.
https://youtu.be/d3Q0jqDGf2I?si=shEROjEFDlEGrHK9
July 23, 2024 @ 3:43 pm
I came to this site earlier today, and I ended up on some French company’s website. Now I see the video made by a French music company has been restricted.
What is going on with the hackers attacking SCM so much here lately? What were the topics you wrote about for the other days you got attacked? If it was on days that you wrote about Sturgill, I would begin to wonder if the rumors about him being CIA are true!
July 23, 2024 @ 6:31 pm
One for the Road is probably my favorite Sturgill song of all-time. Couldn’t be much happier with the new record.
July 23, 2024 @ 6:43 pm
I enjoyed the interview. Good questions and thoughtful answers by Johnny. As for the album, I am in the AOTY contender camp. At a minimum throw it out there and throw down at the time and see who makes the stronger case – the lovers or the haters. I also get the argument that it is predominately not country. For me it’s nostalgic, classic, simple, no tricks or gimmicks. It can be slow sure. But that’s ok sometimes. The openness between the notes and the way the songs breathe is a thing of beauty. There are no skips. I enjoy the album straight through and the only song I go to if I can’t make time to listen to the entire album is the masterpiece right in the middle, “Jupiter’s Faerie.” Again not a country song, but I will fight like hell to get that one on the Song of the year list and we can all argue about it then.
July 23, 2024 @ 8:26 pm
For the record….and I haven’t watched the interviews yet….I like the album, but it’s NOT in the AOTY discussion/camp by any stretch around here nor will it or should it ever be IMO.
July 23, 2024 @ 9:22 pm
This is what I said simply as a preamble to an article highlight quotes from Sturgill Simpson in an interview:
“Depending on who you talk to, Sturgill Simpson’s new album Passage Du Desir is either a serious Album of the Year contender, or a big letdown.”
I am just stating facts. You can see this corroborated in this very comments section. I am not saying this is going to be Saving Country Music’s Album of the Year. It’s July.
July 24, 2024 @ 1:15 am
Thats not a fact though Trigger thats an opinion , and you could say that about anyone, the truth is some albums are hated when they first come out and then people grow to love it. Anyone heard of Nick Drake? Hes not country so maybe you wouldnt of but he recorded three albums in his lifetime and the recognition for his music has only come years after his death. Dylan plugging in and going electric he was a Judas when he did it , now the majority of people think it revolutionalised music. People will catch up too it, esecially if Sturgill’s doing something that isnt safe and requires you to use your ears and listen to it more than once. If you dont like artists that change and evolve shouldnt you just be keeping it mainstream (most of those people make the same record over and over).
But claiming that Passage Du Desire is either a serious album of the year or a big letdown, sorry but you arent stating facts thats an opinion. If Sturgill’s music is on here being debated this strongly then he’s doing something right imo.
I still rate seeing Sturgill on the Sailors Guide to Earth Tour in London as one of my best concerts and that album to me wasnt one I instantly loved. There will be some who stay in the I dont like camp there will be others that will catch up.
I dont really get the comparisons with Waylon Jennings either but its a bit like people saying Colter Wall sounds like Johnny Cash, I just think thats people being lazy and not listening properly.
July 24, 2024 @ 8:00 am
No, it’s a FACT that some people find this album to be their “Album of the Year” so far. That is their opinion, but it’s a fact that people hold that opinion.
July 24, 2024 @ 11:31 am
No its an opinion not a fact . London being the capital of England is a fact.
Someone saying that an album is album of the year or a big let down is someones opinion.
Thats a FACT.
July 24, 2024 @ 1:43 pm
I believe that you are wrong. It is a fact that I believe it. It is likely your opinion that I am wrong. Why is that so difficult for you to understand? Kyle is correct when he says that it is a fact that some people think the new Strugill album is album of the year material.The hell?
July 23, 2024 @ 10:57 pm
It almost seems like Sturgill hates High Top Mountain and I don’t understand why. Too this day it’s still my favorite record he’s ever done. I love the sound and vibe and feel of that record. I honestly wish he would do more stuff that sounds like High Top Mountain. And they Waylon Jennings comparisons are just weird to me. He doesn’t sound anything like him. I’ve never understood the comparison.
July 24, 2024 @ 7:58 am
I think the reason Sturgill is frustrated by that album is because it gave off the impression to country traditionalists, “This is who Sturgill Simpson is,” and he’s been fighting against that ever since as you can see in many of the comments in this very comments section. That said, it seems like Sturgill’s insistence on not being pigeon holed has also been detrimental, if not self-destructive. He admits in this very interview, “It’s a flaw.”
July 28, 2024 @ 1:30 pm
This flaw is what makes him an interesting artist. Most interesting artists are complicated and controversial. They’re not in it to make you or me happy.
July 24, 2024 @ 4:58 am
It would be great if Sturgill would embrace his inner Waylon instead of running from it. Instead of being selfish and playing whatever he wants, he should try making others happy by giving them what they want: Waylon. Maybe he can go to “embracing your inner Waylon” therapy with a Nashville shrink. Part of the therapy would be wearing a black leather vest, even when sleeping and showering. Also, instead of the same cliche b-bender licks, give us some killer pedal steel guitar right up front and not buried somewhere in the mix. That should do it. But seriously, even if his best music sounds Waylonesque, it doesn’t sound like he’s a copy-cat, he still has his own original sound, so what’s the problem? Give us some Waylon, man! Just run with it…Originality is a delusion. Also if you’re depressed, find God! Record a gospel album…oh, and make it sound like Waylon!
July 24, 2024 @ 7:57 am
No. No, no, no. No artist should *ever* try to sound like someone else. That is what a cover band exists to do. If Sturgill’s voice sounds like Waylon’s, that’s just the way it is. Don’t hide it, but don’t go out and play “Mama” every night.
As for the album, it’s excellent. Whether it’s “country” doesn’t matter. It’s a lot closer to country than Rammstein, so that’s good enough.
If anything, many of the songs take me back to late weekend nights in the mid- to late-1970s, particularly “If The Sun Never Rises Again.” There’s just some vibe that reminds me of the bonfire burning down around 1:00 am and sharing a bottle with people who won’t talk to one another M-F but will renew their acquaintance at next weekend’s field party.
Jupiter’s Faerie is amazing. I found out a few days ago the daughter of someone I dated for a couple of years in college died in 2019. I’ve had no contact with this person since the mid-1980s (no, there was no court order :)) but it still hit me and one of my first thoughts was that I hear there are faeries out on Jupiter and I listened to this song about 12 times.
Scooter Blues is probably not an homage to the late Jimmy Buffett but it could be.
Interestingly, the one song people seem to like the most, Mint Tea, is one I like the least. I do like it, but it just sounds like “paint by numbers” Sturgill. He could write that song a dozen times a day.
But the worst thing about that song is Sturgill’s use of “why you so afraid of little old me” which is either a blatant ripoff of Her Omnipotent Goddess, Taylor Swift or just a mistake.
But this is *excellent* stuff. I can’t wait to see him back on a stage this fall.
July 25, 2024 @ 11:37 am
“Sun Never Rises Again” sounds like something Stapleton would be more likely to do these days, but Sturgill nails that vibe here. Great stuff.
July 24, 2024 @ 7:47 am
PSA – Qobuz is better than Apple Music and it’s not just for French folks. It’s available internationally and they’re one of the few digital retailers, next to Bandcamp, that sells albums in lossless digital format (WAV, AIFF etc.) – meaning CD quality or better, not compressed garbage like Apple Music and the other digital retailers/streamers. I buy the majority of my music from Qobuz (and Bandcamp). I highly recommend it.
July 24, 2024 @ 1:47 pm
Liked Qobuz, but had to ditch it for streaming after the trial. Great sound, but just didn’t have enough bandwidth with my crappy home internet for it not to buffer like crazy. Still do buy some albums on their retail section.
July 27, 2024 @ 7:39 am
Apple Music has been high rez for awhile now. Up to 24bit, 196K.
I think Spotify is the only major company lagging in that regard.
July 24, 2024 @ 11:30 am
I don’t know where to put this so I’m putting it here, several years late. Sturgill dropped the ball on Dood and Juanita and it’s been bothering me since. The album run time is 27 minutes. The original release of red-headed stranger was 33 minutes, for comparison. If sturgill incorporated like, 2 more real songs, that album would be so much better. What if it re-recorded panbowl as if it was from Dood’s perspective and tacked it on the end? What if he recorded two bluegrass standards or old country songs that fit the narrative? Not all of RHS is original material. I just feel like he left so much meat on the bone with that one and the producer should have stepped in and said as much.
July 25, 2024 @ 1:05 am
Why change your name. It’s posturing (is that the right word?).Do normal. A nice record but absolutely not more than that.
July 29, 2024 @ 6:23 pm
Do normal? The last thing I want is a normal person making music at this level. Sturgill is an Artist with a capital A. Most are NOT normal.
July 25, 2024 @ 1:01 pm
Seems like so many people want him to do this or that, based on what they want or like..
Personally, I love the ride he has taken with his music.
For an independent artist, on his own label, and co-producing, he obviously is doing something right.
The amount of coverage and positive reaction he has managed to receive with this has been impressive. Must result in some envy.
Personally, I feel it is more country than not. I can understand why it might not be considered a SCM country album of the year, but it is a great listen and a nice addition to his discography. One of my favorite so far.
July 29, 2024 @ 2:28 pm
Screw the labels he’s a great artist
August 1, 2024 @ 7:12 pm
Everytime I hear Sturgill Simpson refer to himself as Johnny Blue Skies:
“Ever since Prince turned himself into a symbol ”
– Eminem
September 22, 2024 @ 1:26 am
Album of the year. Sturgill is an artist, not for everybody. Which is why he’s a generational talent.