Jack White goes solo

Jack White posted the first single from an upcoming solo album on his website. (Associated Press)

Guitarist and singer-songwriter Jack White has released a taste of his first solo effort - a single called Love Interruption that hit iTunes on Monday. Shot through with his signature musicality, it is plaintive, ironic take on love featuring clarinet and female backup vocals from Ruby Amanfu. The track can be heard on his website, www.jackwhiteiii.com.

It's a year since White announced the demise of The White Stripes and the single augurs a solo album, Blunderbuss, due out April 23 on his own record label, Third Man.

"I didn't really even think of recording under my own name for a long time," White told BBC Radio 1 on Monday night. "I thought, 'I've got the rest of my life to do that.'"

As he tells it, White decided to sing his own material when someone didn't show up for a recording session. "These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colours on my own canvas," White told the BBC.

He continues to play with two other bands, the Dead Weather and the Raconteurs, and Blunderbuss will include collaborations with Seasick Steve, Nickel Creek's Chris Thile and Nashville songwriter Amanfu. White has never been big on the back story - for years he was coy about whether he was husband or brother to The White Stripes' Meg White - but he's always been strong on style. So hit us, Jack, with your Blunderbuss.