Mark Knopfler: In the Middle Flows of a River for his new album

It took Mark Knopfler, British author, composer, guitarist, and singer born in Glasgow (Scotland) on August 12, 1949, founder in 1977, with his brother David, of the band Dire Straits, more than five years to move from a road to a river. A period of time, partly due to the pandemic, that he used to refine sounds and thoughts.

He also considers that experiencing delays can be a good thing because "it allows us to reconsider what we have in our hands and take a step back," adding that this is how he came up with the idea of ​​bringing together some of his songs for an EP, which will be released shortly after the album, and whose general theme will focus more than the album on a period like the early 1960s, when the world had rebuilt in a certain way; a period that for him corresponds to the transition from children's literature to adult literature, and by extension to the real world.

In his tenth studio album "One Deep River," the artist, soon to be 75 years old, evokes, among other things, the northern region of England where he grew up. It's true that the style is less flamboyant than in the 1980s, the guitar is more subdued, allowing the lyrics to speak. The musician considers himself "much more a songwriter than a guitarist, even more so now."

But this is not surprising for this former journalist and English teacher, passionate about literature, and whose reading is a constant source of inspiration.

Knopfler's decision to release an EP alongside the album.

"One Deep River" is not just an album for Knopfler; it's a culmination of his life's work, a reflection of his journey from a young musician in Dire Straits to a seasoned artist with a profound understanding of his art and its impact on a specific period of time, shows his meticulous approach to his craft. By revisiting his past work and reinterpreting it for a new audience, Knopfler demonstrates his commitment to artistic growth and exploration.