* ‘U2 â Easter Lily’ (Island Records)*
The release of the U2 Easter Lily EP marks a distinct creative moment for U2, with guitarist The Edge offering new insight into how the project came together.
Speaking through a newly released digital edition of the band’s longtime fanzine Propaganda, The Edge explained that the songs featured on the EP—and its earlier counterpart Days of Ash—naturally separated themselves from the band’s upcoming album.
“We wrote some songs meant for our album but they started to assert themselves in some unexpected ways, demanding special attention.”
Rather than forcing them into a traditional album format, the band chose to let the material evolve on its own terms.
“Their own devotional world, suggesting they didn’t feel part of our album.”
The structure of both releases follows a deliberate timeline tied to the calendar. Days of Ash arrived on Ash Wednesday, while the U2 Easter Lily EP followed 40 days later, aligning with Easter.
This timing wasn’t planned in advance—it emerged organically from the music itself.
“So we folded … agreed to their timeline … which was Easter … 40 days after Ash Wednesday.”
The Edge emphasized that the songs dictated the process, not the band.
“The songs are the boss… you have to do what they say or they’ll abandon you for someone else.”
While both EPs are connected, they explore different thematic directions.
“If the songs on Days of Ash captured our response to the outside world… with the Easter Lily EP it’s more what’s going on in our interior world.”
This contrast creates a balanced narrative across both releases, something The Edge described as having a clear sense of symmetry.
The Propaganda feature also includes comments from producer Jacknife Lee, who is collaborating with U2 on their next album.
Lee pointed to a noticeable change in how the band is approaching their recording process.
“[T]he four of them playing in a room was less important for the last few records… but they have a new focus on that now.”
That shift signals a return to a more traditional, performance-driven dynamic within the group.
“They’re rediscovering their power as a group of people. That is a joy to witness.”
With the U2 Easter Lily EP and Days of Ash, the band appears to be entering a new phase—one that blends experimentation with a renewed connection to their core identity.
According to Lee, that energy is already evident in the studio.
“I think this is an important era for the band. They have not sounded so energized in decades.”
Content for this summary was derived from original reporting by ABC Audio, as featured on 105.7 The Point
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