A new documentary and video interview with James Ellis Ford explores the background of his new album, Lost In Another World, which was made on a cancer ward.
The new LP is unique for a couple of reasons. It is unique to him, undoubtedly, because of the disarming levels of honesty and directness he harnessed while singing about his love for his family and friends; but it is also unique as it is likely the world’s first album written, played, sung and recorded in totality by an artist isolating during treatment on a cancer ward with the odds stacked against his survival.
Going into the Winter of 2024, Ford’s two main bands, Simian Mobile Disco and The Last Shadow Puppets, may have been on extended hiatus but otherwise, professionally, things couldn’t have looked better. The world-renowned producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who has worked with Gorillaz, The Last Dinner Party, Pulp and Pet Shop Boys had a diary booked up months, if not years, in advance.
But after getting taken ill, he was rushed to hospital on Christmas Eve and eventually he was given the diagnosis of an aggressive form of leukaemia called AML and hadn’t even come to terms with this when he had to start four rounds of punishing chemotherapy. It was during one fortnight while isolating in hospital between bouts of radiation treatment that he created what would become Lost In Another World in its entirety.
Below, he speaks to tQ editor John Doran about the punishing but ultimately rewarding experience.
Domino will release Lost In Another World on 14 August 2026.
