STEVEN WILSON Talks About Switching Up Sounds Despite Upset Fans: “You Have To Confront Their Expectations”

Steven Wilson raises a fair point about the relationship between artist and fan – that there’s an “‘unwritten contract’ that exists between an artist and their fan base, is that you have to confront their expectations. Because, if you don’t… you’re not really being a proper artist. You’re kind of moving more to the realms of being an entertainer.”

Steven Wilson – best known for his work in Porcupine Tree and Blackfield – has had a pretty successful solo career. The three-time Grammy nominated solo artist has ventured through different aspects of the prog rock genre throughout his career, but went a little bit to the pop-side on his To The Bone record in 2017.

Wilson continues with the idea that the music industry depends on those kinds of contracts when talking to The Vinyl Guide Podcast: “The music industry – it’s not a service industry. You’re not trying to understand what people want and give to them. It’s a very strange industry where, in a way, to be an artist, you have to be very selfish about what you do, do it for yourself. But then, the paradox of that is you have to then go out and find an audience that want that.”

And true to Wilson‘s ethos of artistic expression, when he released his pop-leaning record, To The Bone, a few people were upset. However, Wilson doesn’t care because he created the record for himself, on his terms, and the few fans’ dismay actually made him happy.

“Because it meant that I had not simply delivered more of the same, that I had not catered for my audience,” and – never wants to remain stagnant, “I’m still moving forward, and I’m evolving. And if [the audience] want to come with me, that’s great. But if they don’t, of course, I’m sad, but I also recognize that that’s part of the ‘contract,'” Wilson acknowledges. Yet, as an artist, that’s the right thing to do, “I’ve moved forward and I’ve evolved,” Wilson explained further.

And Wilson never wants to stop evolving, no matter the cost – even if that means upsetting certain parts of your audience. He believes a musician should never fear displeasing your fans, “You should worry about not displeasing them. Because if you’re not, then it means you’re not really evolving.”

Speaking of Steven Wilson, the guy has a ton of tour dates lined up for 2025. They are:

5/22 Amsterdam, Netherlands AFAS Live
5/24 Paris, France Salle Pleyel
5/25 Paris, France Salle Pleyel
5/26 Paris, France Salle Pleyel
5/28 Lyon, France Amphithéâtre 3000
5/30 Stuttgart, Germany Porsche Arena
5/31 Munich, Germany Zenith
6/2 Berlin, Germany Freidrichspalast
6/3 Hamburg, Germany Sporthalle
6/4 Warsaw, Poland Arena COS Torwar
6/5 Gliwice, Poland Prezero
6/7 Milan, Italy Teatro Degli Archimboldi
6/8 Rome, Italy Auditorium Parco della Musica
6/10 Zürich, Switzerland The Hall
6/11 Marseille, France Cepac Silo
6/12 Barcelona, Spain Para-Lel 62
6/13 Madrid, Spain Sala La Riviera
9/9 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
9/10 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
9/11 El Cajon, CA The Magnolia
9/12 Phoenix, AZ The Van Buren
9/14 Denver, CO Paramount Theatre
9/16 Minneapolis, MN Orpheum Theatre
9/17 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
9/19 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
9/20 Northfield, OH MGM Northfield Park
9/22 Toronto, ON The Danforth Music Hall
9/23 Toronto, ON The Danforth Music Hall
9/25 Montreal, QC MTELUS
9/26 Montreal, QC MTELUS
9/27 Québec City, Canada Theatre Capitole
9/29 Boston, MA The Shubert Theatre
9/30 Port Chester, NY The Capitol Theatre
10/2 New York, NY Brooklyn Paramount Theater
10/4 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore Philadelphia
10/5 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore Philadelphia
10/7 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
10/8 Durham, NC The Carolina Theatre
10/9 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
10/11 Dallas, TX Majestic Theatre
10/13 Guadalajara, Mexico Auditorio Telmex
10/14 Mexico City, CDMX Pepsi Center WTC
10/17 São Paulo, Brazil Tokio Marine Hall
10/19 Santiago, Chile Movistar Arena
11/2 Mumbai, India Venue TBA
11/5 Delhi, India Venue TBA
11/7 Kolkata, India Venue TBA
11/9 Bengaluru, India Venue TBA
11/12 Perth, Australia Astor Theatre
11/13 Adelaide, Australia Her Majesty’s Theatre
11/15 Melbourne, Australia Forum Theatre
11/16 Sydney, Australia ICC Darling Harbour
11/17 Brisbane, Australia QPAC Concert Hall