Serge Pizzorno on Imposter Syndrome and the ‘Act III’ Era of Kasabian

A New Chapter for Kasabian

As Kasabian announce details of their ninth album ‘Act III’ alongside the release of their new single ‘Great Pretender’, Serge Pizzorno has opened up to NME about the evolution of the band. Following the dance-leaning one-off collaboration with Calvin Harris, ‘Release The Pressure’, the Leicester indie veterans are returning to their roots with a record that promises to be a blast of guitar-heavy, festival-ready rock.

“The guitar is really prominent on this record,” Pizzorno explained. “We’re nine albums in and have trodden a lot of ground. As a songwriter, I get bored really quickly so I move about a fair bit. ‘Great Pretender’ was one of those mornings where the guitar was there and this song literally happened in 10 minutes. They’re few and far between but they’re amazing when they happen.”

Conquering Imposter Syndrome

Pizzorno views the anthemics of ‘Great Pretender’ as an exploration of the psychological state of a frontman. He argues that imposter syndrome should not be viewed as a weakness, but rather as a sign that one is operating on the edge of something significant.

“It’s an interesting place to be: the moment before you go on stage, that ‘now or never feeling’,” he noted. “On some level, even the greats, we’re all just blagging it. Everyone feels exactly the same, even the best to have ever done it. Being out of your depth is great because playing it safe is not the one.”

Reflecting on his transition to the role of frontman, Pizzorno acknowledged the challenges of stepping into the spotlight. “I’ve always written everything myself and I’ve had to learn how to be a frontman, and learn quick. It’s not like I’ve had time! I’ve been put at the front of a massive band but I’ve kind of embraced that. It’s like being a martial artist: I’m fully dedicated. I’ve watched people and seen how it’s done, now I’m going out there and baring my soul.”

The Blueprint of ‘Act III’

The frontman describes the last six years as a “mini opera” of sorts, with 2022’s The Alchemist’s Euphoria and 2024’s Happenings serving as precursors to this current iteration. For Act III, the focus is on the raw energy of four musicians playing together.

Pizzorno cites recent live experiences—including sets by Oasis, Radiohead, and Fred Again..—as key influences on the album’s sonic direction. “Between those three is the blueprint of what we’ve been trying to do for years. I can hear what that sounds like… What’s important is what it feels like. Now we’ve got the back catalogue that jumps between all those things, and this album is all that’s great about Kasabian.”

With a summer of major shows ahead, including a headline slot at Finsbury Park and a historic Thursday night headlining performance at Leeds Festival, the band is prepared to deliver a high-octane experience. “We’re reimagining the songs and it’s an eras-defining set with songs passing through from the start, a few little surprises and some mad bits that people will recognise,” Pizzorno concluded. “We’re just going to give the people what they want; that’s the story of this summer.”