Norman Cook, famously known as Fatboy Slim, isn’t hitting the studio as much these days. Instead, he’s been drawn to the thrill of live performances, revealing a significant shift in his artistic focus.
Cook, who kicked off his musical journey in the 80s with indie rock band The Housemartins, transitioned to electronic music in the 90s with Beats International before fully embracing the Fatboy Slim persona in 1996. His work has resonated globally, not just in his native U.K. His 1998 album, ‘You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby,’ broke into the Billboard 200, and its single ‘Praise You’ hit No. 36 on the Hot 100. Despite this success, Cook has been largely absent from record charts over the last two decades, with 2004’s ‘Palookaville’ being his last full album.
Cook has pivoted towards live shows, although sporadic releases still occur. In 2024, he released new singles ‘Role Model’ and ‘Bus Stop Please’, marking his first new tracks since 2022’s ‘Speed Trials on Acid’ with Carl Cox. Speaking to The Sun, Cook shared his diminishing passion for making music. ‘My last two singles just came out of a live show,’ he said, highlighting how they evolved out of side projects rather than passionate studio work.
Cook explained, ‘The thing is, you can’t make music unless you’re absolutely passionate about it.’ He admits his current drive lies more in DJing and live performances. Recalling his collaboration with David Byrne in 2010 for ‘Here Lies Love’, a project about Imelda Marcos, Cook expressed frustration with the pressure to produce new material, balancing it with the joy of live sets.
For years, he struggled with feeling obligated to create new music until he realized that his audience and personal enjoyment leaned more heavily toward his DJing. ‘I’m hoping that one day the passion will come back,’ he mused, reflecting a hopeful pause rather than an end to his music-making journey.
Norman Cook’s journey as Fatboy Slim might have hit a creative pause, but his passion for live performances continues to dazzle fans. As he focuses on what truly brings him joy, fans can still experience his musical genius on stage, with the hope that his studio inspiration may reignite in the future.
Source: Yahoo
