Kacey Musgraves is releasing her fourth album, Golden Hour, marking her first non-Christmas release since 2015’s Pageant Material, and it’s a turn in a different direction for the celebrated singer-songwriter.
Musgraves has said that the new album represents a shift in perspective, and she’s already let fans hear some of the songs in concert, revealing perhaps the most mature work she’s yet undertaken. She credits her marriage with that new sense of direction.
Read on for all of the information we know about Golden Hour, including the songs, the producers, the release date and more.
The Title
Musgraves’ fourth album is titled Golden Hour, and she tells Entertainment Weekly that the title, like much of her new music, was inspired by her relationship with husband Ruston Kelly. She came up with the title while viewing the solar eclipse.
“It felt like this majestic time where God was saying, ‘This is a moment to be present for, to witness and relish in the beauty of this incredible world,'” she says. “That was important for me to include on this record. It’s such an ugly time right now with society and politics, and it could be easy to focus on that. But one thing we could use is a little more love and positivity and pretty colors.”
The Cover
The cover of Golden Hour shows Musgraves in front of a bright blue backdrop, covering part of her face coyly with a decorative fan.
Mercury Nashville
The Release Date
Musgraves will release Golden Hour on March 30. The album is currently available for pre-order on major digital platforms.
The Producers
Musgraves worked with a different team to create Golden Hour, co-producing the album with Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian. Fitchuk is a Nashville session musician and songwriter, while Tashian is a songwriter and a member of the Silver Seas.
The Songs
Musgraves has been teasing fans with new songs from Golden Hour by performing them in concert recently. We’ve seen songs surface online in fan videos including “Velvet Elvis,” which was directly inspired by Kelly, “Space Cowboy,” inspired by a breakup with her former boyfriend, and “Wonder Woman.” Musgraves has also shared a song online called “Butterflies,” and when she revealed the track listing and pre-sale, she dropped the studio versions of “Space Cowboy” and “Butterflies.”
She tells EW the music is “trippy,” listing influences from Neil Yong and Sade to the Bee Gees. Musgraves collaborated with writers including Luke Laird, Shane McAnally and Natalie Hemby for the project, as well as her co-producers, Fitchuk and Tashian. She recorded the album in the studio above Sheryl Crow‘s horse barn, and Crow sometimes hung out at the sessions.
Though the album still bears her trademark wit, it’s a turn in a softer direction emotionally.
“I have a lot more love songs this time around, and I’ve never been one to write a love song and really feel it,” Musgraves says. “That probably sounds like the most depressing thing ever. [But] I’m coming off getting married and being in this golden hour of my personal life, where all these things are finally coming to fruition. I found myself inspired to write about this person and all these things he brought out in me that weren’t there before.”
The Track Listing
1. “Slow Burn”
2. “Lonely Weekend”
3. “Butterflies”
4. “Oh, What a World”
5. “Mother”
6. “Love Is a Wild Thing”
7. “Space Cowboy”
8. “Happy & Sad”
9. “Velvet Elvis”
10. “Wonder Woman”
11. “High Horse”
12. “Golden Hour”
13. “Rainbow”
The Single
Musgraves has not revealed a single from Golden Hour.
The Record Label
Mercury Nashville will release Golden Hour as it has released Musgraves’ other three major label albums.
The Tour
Musgraves is touring with Little Big Town and Midland in 2018 on the Breakers Tour, and she’ll join Harry Styles on the road later in the year as part of his Live on Tour in June and July.
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This Article Was Originally Posted at www.TasteofCountry.com
