Jeff Schroeder announced the release date for his debut solo album, ‘Metanoia,’ as August 23 on Instagram. A following press release revealed that Schroeder improvised the instrumental project as part of an outdoor art installation at Toronto’s Fort York in 2021.
The guitarist said of the recordings he reportedly didn’t listen to until March 2024:
“It does feel quite vulnerable at times because there are those that expect you to have a master plan, and making any mistakes makes you look foolish or misguided. I don’t think it’s all inner critic discourse. Some of these voices are real, and that is a dimension of this part of my life that I am learning to negotiate because it certainly has an impact on the artistic process.”
The New Record Is ‘Important’ To The Guitarist
The Instagram post from the record label Clerestory AV shared that ‘Metanoia’ would feature ‘72 minutes of meditative guitar works in the spirit of ambient pioneers Fripp & Eno.’ The guitarist explained in the press release:
“Sound as itself, without the imposition of human categories of interpretation, can provide a space of alterity or otherness than the ones we tend to live as we go about our daily lives. When we think about how in our current culture even the most private aspects of our existence have become available as data to be traded and sold, creating these spaces outside of that framework—even if temporary—is important to me.”
The new record will be the guitarist’s first since leaving The Smashing Pumpkins in October 2023.
Schroeder’s Departure From The Smashing Pumpkins
Jeff Schroeder cited his desire to pursue a different artistic journey as the reason for his departure from the band after 16 years. He reflected on his decision in a chat with Guitar World a month later:
“Well, it certainly wasn’t an easy one, and it’s something that I thought about for a long time. A lot of it has to do with the circumstances of my joining the band; I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and I grew up in that music scene. And I was always in my own band, not someone else’s. Many musicians come to L.A. to go to Berklee College of Music, find work, try and join a band, and get hired by other artists.”
He continued:
“But that was never my thing. I never auditioned for bands, so being in someone else’s band wasn’t something I ever thought about. But when the situation with the Pumpkins happened, I was such a fan of the band, and it was something I was super-passionate about doing, which made it great.”
The Band’s New Live Guitarist
The Smashing Pumpkins replaced Schroeder with Vigil of War’s Kiki Wong earlier this year. The band previously offered the part to Steve Lukather’s son, Trev, but he turned it down due to scheduling.
Wong shared her thoughts on joining Billy Corgan and the others on Instagram:
“It’s been an absolute wild ride, but I am beyond honored and humbled to be chosen to perform alongside some of rock’s greatest and most influential musicians of all time. I never thought little ol’ 15-year-old me playing metal guitar in my bedroom would amount to this moment. It goes to show hard work and perseverance truly pays off if you’re willing to push through the tough stuff, so never lose hope out there. I am so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to share the stage with the legendary Smashing Pumpkins!”
The band announced their thirteenth record, ‘Aghori Mhori Mei,’ months after Kiki Wong’s addition to the lineup. The album will come out on August 2.