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In a groundbreaking musical partnership that has been decades in the making, Frank Popp Ensemble announces the release of“Right Before My Eyes,” featuring the Modfather himself, Paul Weller. This historic collaboration marks Frank Popp as the first German artist to work with the legendary British musician on an original track, uniting two distinctive voices across generations and musical traditions.
The track is nothing short of sensational. Weller’s unmistakable voice cuts through with raw emotion, delivering lyrics that confront the uncomfortable truths of our time, while his signature guitar work weaves through Frank Popp’s lush, sophisticated production. Popp’s approach here showcases his evolution as a producer – layers of vintage soul instrumentation, carefully crafted arrangements that recall the golden era of Northern Soul and Funk, yet polished with a contemporary sheen that makes every element shine. It’s an electric meeting of minds, uniting Weller’s socially charged, genre-defining artistry with Popp’s cinematic production, timeless grooves, and uncanny ear for the perfect hook that has established him as a fixture of Berlin’s music scene.
Lyrically, Weller tackles the escalating injustices unfolding across the world – people forced to flee their homes, systematic exploitation, endless wars waged in the names of governments and religious leaders who have lost all touch with reality. The song’s title captures the unbearable irony: all of this horror is happening right before the eyes of the world, in plain sight, yet continues unabated. It’s the kind of unflinching commentary that has defined his entire career, from The Jam’s working-class anthems to his ongoing commitment to speaking truth through music, bringing the weight of fifty years of experience and conviction to every line.
For Frank Popp, this collaboration represents the fulfillment of a lifelong musical obsession. As a teenager in 1980s Germany, he discovered The Jam‘s explosive energy through tracks like “That’s Entertainment” and “Town Called Malice.” Soon after, he was dancing wildly to The Style Council‘s “Shout To The Top” in Hilden’s small-town disco JWD, attempting to impress girls with the smooth sophistication of “My Ever Changing Moods.” Weller’s solo work continued to haunt his imagination, with “You Do Something To Me” serving as a direct inspiration for this collaborative masterpiece.
“It is an incredible honor for me to be able to work with this icon of music history, the ‘Modfather’,” Popp explains.
Popp and Weller had harboured the idea of collaborating for years, yet life kept intervening – tours, album releases, and the demands of family and normal existence repeatedly pushed the project back. Then, suddenly, everything clicked into place this year. From Weller’s simple text message “Now it’s time” to the finished song took just two weeks, a whirlwind of creative energy that produced a track destined to linger far longer in listeners’ minds.
Frank Popp Ensemble has been building toward this moment since its inception around 2000. What began as a one-man project unashamedly recreating late-’60s Northern Soul and Funk sounds through vintage samples and old-school hip-hop production techniques has evolved into something far more expansive. Along the way, Popp has racked up impressive credentials. Warner Brothers licensed his track “High Voltage” for the 2001 thriller “Operation Swordfish” starring John Travolta, Halle Berry, and Hugh Jackman, while his song “Hip Teens, Don’t Wear Blue Jeans” became part of a Coca-Cola advertising campaign and climbed into the German Top 20.
After years spent producing other bands, designing posters, and booking legendary acts in Berlin, Popp returned to his own musical project in 2023 with the critically acclaimed album “Shifting.” This April saw the release of “Waves,” an even more conceptual and flowing work featuring collaborations with Nicke Andersson of The Hellacopters, Gerry Love of Teenage Fanclub, and Australian pop genius J Mahon, among others.
Although he needs little introduction, Paul Weller’s influence on British music spans five decades. From The Jam’s anthems that defined a generation through The Style Council’s sophisticated explorations of pop, jazz, and soul, to a solo career that has consistently defied expectations and trends, his impact is immeasurable. He shares with Lennon and McCartney the rare distinction of achieving Number 1 albums in five consecutive decades, cementing his status as one of music’s true cultural icons.
“Right Before My Eyes” brings together everything that makes both artists exceptional. Fans of classic Weller will find the sound they love, while the track’s irresistible hooks and contemporary production have the power to win over an entirely new generation. This is more than just a collaboration – it’s a statement, a meeting of artistic equals that produces something greater than the sum of its parts. The result is a track with all the hallmarks of a classic, guaranteed to resonate long after the final note fades.
“Right Before My Eyes” is out now via Unique Records / Schubert Music Europe, distributed by Believe.