James Ellis Ford on Creating ‘Lost In Another World’ During Cancer Treatment

James Ellis Ford has opened up about the deeply personal process of crafting his latest solo album, Lost In Another World, while navigating the physical and emotional challenges of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The record, which arrives on August 14 via Domino, serves as a raw, unfiltered document of a period defined by both profound vulnerability and creative necessity.

A Creative Sanctuary in Isolation

Following his work on the star-studded War Child Help(2) compilation, the former Simian Mobile Disco star found himself confined to a hospital ward at Barts Hospital. During this time, the isolation of chemotherapy—a process he describes as a “prison sentence” and a “discombobulating experience”—became the unlikely backdrop for his most intimate work to date. “I was in bed and you can barely move, do anything or have any creative thoughts,” Ford explains. “This moment was the first time that a bit of energy came back. I just had an unshakable urge to do something and to connect myself back to a version of myself that I used to know.”

The resulting album was written and recorded in just over two weeks. Ford notes that the lack of physical barriers during his illness stripped away his usual creative filters. “I was just literally singing what was in my mind, almost in a journal, diary-writing way,” he says. “It’s quite a pure photograph of that period of my life.”

“This whole past year has been some of the worst moments of my life, but also some moments of transcendental beauty and gratitude for the blessings I have in my life”

Reflections on Mortality and Gratitude

The album’s lead single, “Overtones,” captures the surreal, detached state Ford experienced during his treatment. Beyond the music, the process forced him to confront his own mortality, shifting his perspective on life’s priorities. “I feel more alive and viscerally connected to being alive and what that means than I ever have,” he reflects. “It’s akin to the feeling you get after a heavy psychedelic trip or something like that. You can see through the mush to what’s important.”

Ford also expressed deep appreciation for the NHS staff who supported him throughout his recovery. “They were absolutely wonderful, caring people who saved my life on a daily basis,” he says. While he initially considered incorporating the sounds of hospital machinery into the record, he ultimately decided against it, noting that those sounds eventually became too closely associated with the trauma of the experience.

Looking Ahead

As he prepares for the release of Lost In Another World, Ford is cautiously planning live performances, including a set at Green Man Festival and a headline show at London’s Horse Hospital. While he admits that revisiting the music can be “re-traumatising,” he remains committed to sharing this chapter of his life. Having previously collaborated with legends like Blur, Arctic Monkeys, and Fontaines D.C., Ford is already looking toward future projects, though he remains tight-lipped about upcoming collaborations.