Tones Behind The Tracks

Artist: Eric Gales

Album: Crown (Provogue/Mascot)

There’s no denying that Eric Gales is a man in motion. His 2019 album, The Bookends, heralded a new energy and sophistication to his music. For many years, by his own admission, he struggled with addiction; now clean for some time, he’s on the form of his life. His new album, Crown, stakes Eric’s claim to the place among guitar’s royalty that his playing deserves. But, much more than that, it is also a powerful platform for an anti-racism message, which Eric says is the culmination of years of lived experience as a black American – and, now, on his new album, he is inviting his audience to have “a conversation” with him about it.

Stinging, stylish, powerful, soulful – Crown is all these things and more. We joined Eric to hear how he made the album of his life.

“It is one of the most iconic records I have done in my life, and it was done by friends getting together and saying, ‘Let’s help you get your