THE APEX TIMES
Mick Jagger, in Billboard interview, discusses Rolling Stones’ “Foreign Tongues,” studio approach with Andrew Watt and AI’s role in music
In an appearance tied to Billboard’s cover story, Mick Jagger described the Rolling Stones’ renewed creative process for the band’s new album, including working with producer Andrew Watt, bringing older song ideas back into sessions, and how emerging technology is showing up in the recording process.
Mick Jagger is breaking down the Rolling Stones’ work on a new album titled “Foreign Tongues,” telling Billboard about the band’s current creative streak and how the group is shaping its next release in the studio. The discussion, published alongside Billboard’s cover coverage, centers on how the Stones approached the sessions for new music and how technology is intersecting with recording workflows.
Jagger said the band is working with producer Andrew Watt, framing Watt’s involvement as part of the Stones’ efforts to keep the group’s sound and songwriting process moving. In the Billboard conversation, Jagger described the Stones’ current studio focus as an extension of the band’s longer history, while emphasizing that their process is not stuck in past methods.
A recurring theme in the interview is the idea of revisiting material that had not been included earlier. Jagger described going back to songs left off from earlier sessions and returning those ideas to the group’s working catalog, an approach that indicates continuity rather than starting over from scratch. The comments suggest the band is treating the recording timeline as iterative, with tracks evolving as the Stones’ thinking changes.
Alongside the discussion of new and revisited songs, Billboard’s coverage also addressed how AI is affecting music production. Jagger discussed AI’s presence in the recording process, reflecting a broader shift in which artists and producers are testing and integrating new technologies into how music is made and refined. The interview does not frame AI as a replacement for band writing or performance, but as a factor inside modern studio production.
Jagger’s remarks also place the Stones’ latest work in the context of the band’s ongoing legacy. Billboard’s description of the interview highlights that Jagger is reflecting on the Rolling Stones’ place in popular music as they prepare new material, with the band’s creative choices described as both forward-looking and anchored in earlier experience.
For listeners, the interview offers an inside look at how major legacy acts are managing the transition from traditional studio habits to today’s toolset. For the industry, the comments underscore how established artists are engaging with emerging technologies, including AI, at a time when audiences and stakeholders are watching closely how those tools are used in recording and distribution.
Billboard’s cover package positions the interview as part of a larger discussion of “Foreign Tongues,” and it links the studio narrative to wider media attention for the Stones’ next chapter. The practical next step for fans is to follow the band’s release rollout for the album, which Billboard’s coverage frames as the product of these sessions and production decisions.
Why It Matters
- The interview highlights how a major legacy act is updating its workflow, including production collaboration and revisiting older material, which can shape what audiences hear at release.
- Jagger’s comments point to increasing mainstream engagement with AI in music production, an issue that may affect how studios, rights-holders, and listeners understand modern recordings.
- By tying songwriting and production choices to technology and studio iteration, the coverage underscores the stakes for labels and distributors preparing future promotion and release strategies.
- The focus on process rather than only the final output may influence expectations for how tracks are developed and marketed in contemporary popular music.
Key Facts
- Mick Jagger discussed the Rolling Stones’ new album “Foreign Tongues” in a Billboard cover interview published July 16, 2026.
- Jagger described working with producer Andrew Watt during the band’s current studio sessions.
- He said the Stones revisited songs that were left off earlier sessions and brought them back into new work.
- Billboard reports that the interview also addressed AI’s role in the music-making process.
- Billboard framed the interview as covering both the Stones’ current creative streak and the band’s broader legacy context.