'A lot of women got in touch saying they were crying': Bobby Gillespie dissects his new record 

The Primal Scream vocalist isn't just happy to getting back on the road with his regular band. He has also teamed up with Jehnny Beth of Savages for a collection of duets entitled Utopian Ashes 

Bobby Gillespie and Jehnny Beth have collaborated on Utopian Ashes. Picture: Sam Christmas

Bobby Gillespie’s black shoulder-length hair sits comfortably on the collar of a blue open-necked shirt, there’s a stillness in his considered Scottish burr delivered during our Zoom chat. In contrast, with a short black crop is French musician and actress Jehnny Beth, who exudes the kind of warmth that is more often found during a face to face interview.

A new collection of duets by the pair appear on Utopian Ashes, a long-player of original songs they have been working on together and apart in Paris and London since 2017. The album was announced alongside a single and promo video for the Remember We Were Lovers tune during the winter lockdown. It reminded many that a popular song still has the power to stop you in your tracks, with Gillespie receiving a strong reaction from fans, friends and one of his musical heroes.