.
Search

Follow Us

Edit Content
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
Facebook Instagram Spotify Tiktok
RPM031 Menu-3
  • NEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Howard Jones Dream Into Action Artwork-4

    Howard Jones announces 40th anniversary Dream Into Action tour

    The seminal record delivered Howard Jones global hits including Things Can Only Get Better, which featured in Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’.

    Natalie Imbruglia Left Of The Middle Artwork BMG-4

    Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn named most-played song of 21st century

    Lifted from her debut LP, ‘Left Of The Middle’, Natalie Imbruglia’s classic track tops Greatest Hits Radio’s latest Countdown.

    Cyndi Lauper Farewell Tour Credit Ruven Afanador-4

    Cyndi Lauper ‘humbled’ by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction

    Time After Time hitmaker Cyndi Lauper is among the Class of 2025, alongside artists including Bad Company, OutKast and Soundgarden.

    Mariah Carey Handout Press-4

    Mariah Carey to headline Capital Summertime Ball 2025

    We Belong Together hitmaker Mariah Carey will top the bill at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 15, marking her first UK show in six years.

  • EXCLUSIVES
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Cascada Studio 24 Handout-4

    Cascada on her Studio 54-inspired new album and 20 years of global hits [Exclusive]

    As they return with their fifth album, Cascada’s Natalie Horler looks back on 20 years of hits and reacts to her recent interview that went viral online.

    Nicki French Who, What, Where Handout Energise-4

    Nicki French considered Eurovision return with new album track: ‘Would they really go for a 60 year old singer… again?’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her new album, Nicki French reveals she almost submitted one track into the running for next year’s Eurovision.

    Pixie Lott Encino Press Handout-4

    Pixie Lott talks new album Encino: ‘When you fall into your authentic self, that’s when the magic happens’ [Exclusive]

    A decade after releasing her self-titled third album, Pixie Lott returns with a body of work that reflects the place she’s at in her life today.

    Betty Boo Rip Up The Rulebook Credit Sandro Hyams-4

    Betty Boo: ‘It’s a philosophy that I have to not let anybody tell you that you can’t be who you want to be!’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her epic new album ‘Rip Up The Rulebook’, Betty Boo opens up about creating her most diverse work to date.

  • NEW MUSIC
  • REVIEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Kim Wilde Closer Artwork Cherry Red

    Kim Wilde – Closer

    Gwen Stefani Bouquet

    Gwen Stefani – Bouquet

    Cascada Studio 24

    Cascada – Studio 24

    Pixie Lott Encino Tag 8 / BMG

    Pixie Lott – Encino

  • CAUGHT LIVE
  • FUTUREPOP
  • RELEASE RADAR
Home News Exclusive

Tears For Fears: ‘New album ‘The Tipping Point’ almost pushed us over the edge’

Connor Gotto by Connor Gotto
February 8, 2022
in Exclusive
Tears For Fears The Tipping Point Tour

Frank W. Ockenfels 3

20
SHARES
198
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Recording Tears For Fears’ first album in 18 years almost tore Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal apart. 

The duo will release ‘The Tipping Point’, their first studio album since 2004’s ‘Everybody Loves a Happy Ending’, on February 25, but sessions for the record were far from plain sailing. 

Don't Miss...

Tears For Fears announce rescheduled intimate London gigs ahead of Radio 2 in the Park headline performance

Kylie Minogue, Tears For Fears to headline BBC Radio 2 in the Park

Speaking to the launch issue of Retro Pop, Curt Smith admits: “We got to the point a few years ago where I certainly wasn’t happy with what we were doing. 

“Myself and Roland sat down and I said, ‘Look, if this is what you want to do, then you go ahead and do it, but it’s not for me.’ 

“That ended and we didn’t know what we were going to do. It was sort of up in the air.”

According to Roland, the band was being “pushed in various directions – not only by our past management but also a record company we were signed to,” which led to discontentment between the pair. 

Curt adds of the original album: “It was just a lot of attempts at trying to make a modern hit single… And we’re crap at making modern records!”

Initially, they set the project to one side and focussed solely on live work, but it was a tragedy that reignited their creative flair and pushed the pair back into the studio, when Roland’s wife Caroline passed away.

That poignant moment reunited the pair and compelled them to reconvene and reassess their direction, with a view to pushing forward with a body of work that was mutually fulfilling. 

“Roland said, ‘Look, let’s sit down and talk about this. What do you feel?’ And I said, ‘I think we have some good songs. But I just think that the recordings really aren’t right. They don’t sound like Tears for Fears – they sound like us trying to be someone else’,” Curt remembers.

“I think he’d come to the same realisation, having taken time away from it… So we sat down and plotted a path forward of how we could finish an album that we were both happy with.”

‘The Tipping Point’ is preceded by its lead single and title track, along with recent release No Small Thing, which begins as an acoustic ditty and flourishes into a full band moment, and became a “catalyst” for the album as we know it today.

‘The Tipping Point’ is available to pre-order on CD, Deluxe CD and vinyl. A Super Deluxe Edition CD is also available, along with signed CDs.

Read the full interview in the Retro Pop 2022 Preview Special, out now. Get yours here: Retro Pop Store.

Tags: Tears For Fears
Connor Gotto

Connor Gotto

Founder and editor of RETROPOP. Self-proclaimed pop aficionado. Usually seen with a wine in hand.

More Like This

Tears For Fears The Tipping Point Press
News

Tears For Fears announce rescheduled intimate London gigs ahead of Radio 2 in the Park headline performance

by Connor Gotto
June 16, 2023
Kylie Minogue (Courtesy); Tears For Fears (Frank W. Ockenfels 3)
News

Kylie Minogue, Tears For Fears to headline BBC Radio 2 in the Park

by Connor Gotto
June 13, 2023
Tears For Fears The Tipping Point Credit Frank W. Ockenfels 3
News

Tears For Fears announce North American dates for The Tipping Point Tour: Part 2 

by Connor Gotto
April 4, 2023
Tears For Fears Credit Twitter
News

Tears For Fears celebrating 40th anniversary of debut album The Hurting with reissues

by Connor Gotto
March 13, 2023
Tears For Fears The Tipping Point Press
New Music

Tears For Fears share music video for latest single ‘Long, Long, Long Time’

by Connor Gotto
August 18, 2022

Follow Us

The RETROPOP Edit

Never miss a story - sign up to RETROPOP's Daily Edit newsletter for free!

Please wait...

You're in! Keep an eye on your inbox for all the latest!

The Latest

Howard Jones Dream Into Action Artwork-4

Howard Jones announces 40th anniversary Dream Into Action tour

May 7, 2025
Natalie Imbruglia Left Of The Middle Artwork BMG-4

Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn named most-played song of 21st century

May 7, 2025
Cyndi Lauper Farewell Tour Credit Ruven Afanador-4

Cyndi Lauper ‘humbled’ by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction

April 29, 2025
RETROPOP No. 31 : Sept '24
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Change privacy settings
MEDIA KIT

RETROPOP participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Copyright © 2024 Irresistible. All rights reserved.

  • Home
    • Home – Layout 1
    • Home – Layout 2
    • Home – Layout 3
  • News
  • Fashion

© 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

CloseMenu

New issue out now

SHOP HERE