Arctic Monkeys Producer James Ford Battled Cancer to Emerge with a Life-Affirming Solo

Arctic Monkeys Producer James Ford Battled Cancer to Emerge with a Life-Affirming Solo

Lost in Another World, released under his full name James Ellis Ford, was partially recorded in a London hospital while the songwriter underwent treatment for leukemia By Nick Reilly Nick Reilly View all posts by Nick Reilly July 28, 2026 James Ford, known for his work with the Arctic Monkeys, will release a new solo album written while he was undergoing treatment for leukemia. Dan Wilton* When acclaimed producer James Ford, who’s overseen every Arctic Monkeys album since 2007’s Favourite Worst Nightmare, found himself undergoing cancer treatment in a London hospital last year, he says it was only natural that his mind would eventually drift back to music. “I’d been in hospital feeling awful and the first moment that my energy came back a bit I realized I was in survival mode and I didn’t really have any creative thoughts, which was terrifying in a way,” he recalls. “I’m so used to making music every day and it’s a real part of my self-worth and identity. All these things are wrapped up, and I regulate my mental health with music. So when my energy came back for the first time, it was the first thing I wanted to do.” It was at this point that Ford’s wife Sereen stepped in, bringing a simple recording set-up and an IKEA table to St. Bart’s Hospital, which allowed him to record while being kept in isolation to protect his immune system during treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Now, the remarkable results of this process — written and recorded in just two weeks last year – emerge in Ford’s new album Lost in Another World, due Aug. 14. Released under his full name, James Ellis Ford, it’s a remarkable record which, despite being recorded in the darkest of circumstances, feels like a call to embrace life in all its knotty glory. You can read our whole Q&A with Ford below. You’ve announced a number of live shows for this album. Artists can find it daunting to present new material at the best of times, but I wondered if it’s even harder when this is a deeply personal reflection on what you’ve gone through over the last 18 months?It’s a mixed blessing, to be honest with you. I’m proud of the album and I’m glad it’s getting out there, but it very much reminds me of one of the darker periods of my life. If I’m entirely honest, I’ve been doing a bunch of press and obviously relearning the songs and doing a few little rehearsals, and it’s not the nicest feeling. I’m talking about being ill a lot and it just takes me back there, it puts me back in that moment. It was [made] quickly and in that situation, so it’s akin to looking at a photograph of it. It’s fine, but I don’t think it’s something I want to dwell on for too long. Editor’s picks The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century So this is a record that, quite understandably, you want to move on from quite quickly?I suppose I always have a little bit of an odd relationship with records once they’re finished. I’m never that keen on listening back to something I’ve made recently because there’s always an uncomfortable feeling of, “I could have done that better” or, “I could have made a different decision here or there.” It’s only really after a few years that I can look back on it and be like, “Oh that was cool,” and, “Maybe that one could have been better.” But of course the subject matter and the circumstances of this particular record are especially personal and I think in a wa

Maria Elena Sondi

Segue con attenzione il mondo dei libri, del cinema e delle arti contemporanee. Il suo sguardo unisce curiosità, sensibilità critica e interesse per i nuovi linguaggi della cultura, con l’obiettivo di raccontare storie, opere e protagonisti capaci di interpretare il nostro tempo.