It’s a moment that fans of the legendary rock band Pearl Jam have been eagerly awaiting—the latest update on the progress of their forthcoming studio album. In a recent interview with Guitar World, Pearl Jam‘s guitarist Mike McCready shed some light on what’s been happening behind the scenes, and it’s safe to say that excitement is building.

The follow-up to their 2020 album, “Gigaton,” is currently in the works, and it appears that the band is cooking up something special. What’s particularly intriguing is their choice of collaborator—none other than the multi-Grammy-winning producer Andrew Watt. Known for his work with diverse artists such as Dua Lipa, Post Malone, Justin Bieber, Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Vedder, and THE ROLLING STONES, Watt brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the Pearl Jam studio.

According to McCready, the new album is nearly complete, with just a few finishing touches left to be made. While fans may have hoped for a release this year, it seems that patience will be required a bit longer. However, the delay is not without good reason. Andrew Watt’s influence on the band has been nothing short of transformative.

As reported by BlabberMouth – McCready revealed, “Andrew Watt brought an energy and a youthfulness and a great ear to us that I think we needed. He kind of kicked us in our asses a little bit.” It’s evident that Watt’s enthusiasm and relentless drive resonated with the band, inspiring them to push their creative boundaries further than ever before.

Watt’s passion for Pearl Jam’s music was a driving force throughout the recording process. McCready remarked, “He’s the most hyper guy I’ve ever met besides myself. But he’s a giant fan of our band, and he’s a really smoking guitar player in his own right. He got us into a room and just pushed us as hard as we could be pushed.”

For a band that has been making music for over three decades, it’s not always easy to welcome an “outsider” into their inner sanctum. Pearl Jam has its own well-established dynamics, honed over years of collaboration. Yet, sometimes, an external perspective is precisely what’s needed to inject new life into a group’s creative process.

As McCready put it, “It’s hard for a quote-unquote outsider to come into our world because we’ve done things a certain way. We’re open to new things, but we are also in our own world. We’ve done things for 30 years. So we know the dynamics of our band very well. But sometimes we need to get pushed and questioned, and Andrew did a great job of that.”

The insights shared by Pearl Jam’s bassist Jeff Ament earlier this year shed further light on their creative journey. He emphasized the band’s desire to explore uncharted territory and to embrace the full spectrum of their musical capabilities. It’s a testament to their collective maturity and willingness to evolve as musicians.

As we eagerly anticipate the release of Pearl Jam’s latest creation, we can’t help but be excited about the impact of Andrew Watt’s influence. With their remarkable track record and enduring relevance, Pearl Jam remains a musical force to be reckoned with. The wait for new material may be testing our patience, but if the past is any indication, the payoff will undoubtedly be worth it. In the world of rock ‘n’ roll, Pearl Jam continues to prove that they are in a league of their own.