Band Line-up and Studio Environment
- Current Members: Tim Carter, Serge Pizzorno, Chris Edwards, and Ian Matthews
- Studio Location: A gated home in rural Leicestershire, surrounded by farmland and fish ponds
- Studio Nickname: The Sergery, a title solidified after Pizzorno received an honorary doctorate in music in 2025
- Creative Atmosphere: An austere black cube structure featuring vintage synthesizers, a gong, and bobblehead dolls
- Work Ethic: A disciplined approach involving four to five hours of focused work daily, with a strict ban on phones and snacks
Serge Pizzorno has transformed his approach to music-making, moving away from the chaotic, sleepless sessions of Kasabian’s early years. While he once embraced a lifestyle he describes as the “French poet life,” he now finds that a structured routine is essential for his productivity. He notes that while the intensity of his youth added atmosphere to their records, he has found deep satisfaction in the disciplined, focused life he has led for the past three albums.
The band is currently preparing for the release of their ninth studio album, Act III, which arrives in just 10 days. The recording space, which Pizzorno built to capture spontaneous inspiration, includes a basketball court for moments when the creative spark is elusive. He emphasizes that a “little bit of hunger” remains vital to his process, keeping him driven as he continues to push the band’s sound forward.
Pizzorno is particularly focused on melody, noting that he feels the current musical landscape lacks strong hooks. He intentionally sought to craft songs that resonate with listeners, even experimenting with unconventional structures. For the single Hippie Sunshine, he drew inspiration from 1960s tracks that feature sudden, jarring shifts in tempo and tone. Beyond the melody, the song serves as a critique of modern tech culture and the influence of algorithms, which he believes are distancing people from genuine human connection.
Regarding the rise of artificial intelligence in music, Pizzorno is clear in his opposition. He argues that AI companies misunderstand the creative process by equating writing with tedium. For him, the studio is a playground where the joy lies in the act of creation itself. He believes that relying on AI to generate songs removes the very essence of the craft that he finds most rewarding.
To demonstrate his process, Pizzorno uses his latest equipment, such as the Moog DFAM synthesizer. He prefers learning through YouTube tutorials rather than instruction manuals, often finding a song’s foundation in just ten minutes of experimentation. He emphasizes that small, spontaneous sparks are more valuable than trying to force a grandiose, career-defining anthem.
The band’s resilience has been tested significantly over the last six years, particularly following the departure of former singer Tom Meighan just one day before he was charged with assault. Reflecting on that difficult period, Pizzorno admits the pain was unbearable, but the band was determined not to let their story end there. With the upcoming release of Act III, the band remains focused on their future, with early plans for a tenth album already sketched out on a whiteboard in the studio. The report also notes that but he might screen a film in the background (typically something by David Lynch) while he tinkers with his vast array of synths and guitars, snacks and phones are banned. The report also notes that to get there, you drive deep into rural Leicestershire, to a gated house where you’re greeted by his wife, Amy, and two gorgeous but “unruly” dogs. The report also notes that a framed photo of Kasabian’s recent Finsbury Park gig sits in bubble wrap at the foot of the stairs. The report also notes that including a distorted Count Duckula and a vintage apothecary cabinet, decorate the kitchen, serge’s own artworks. The report also notes that effortlessly cool in his dog-print designer shirt, external, and leads us outside, he shuffles in from a side room. The report also notes that we pass through a gate into a secret walled garden, stepping over a pile of discarded Nerf guns.
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