Hunter Hayes has surprised fans by announcing that he’ll release new album Wild Blue (Part I) tomorrow (Friday 16th August 2019).
The album, released via Warner Music Nashville, was rumoured to be arriving in October but it’ll now be available to stream and download this week. New track My Song Too will receive it’s world premiere on BBC Radio 2’s Country Show tonight (Thursday 15th Aug) after 9pm BST.
Wild Blue has been long-awaited and it comes following a transformative period in Hayesā life. The album is a celebration and recognises a difficult period of growth for Hayes.
On his decision to surprise release, Hayes shares, āSo, we initially planned to perform on Today and announce our October album release, however because the album was finished and because the fans were asking for more new music now, we wanted them to have it as soon as it was ready… and have it all, not just five or six songs.ā
Hayes takes on multiple roles across the record and is credited for Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, B3, Bass Guitar, Strings, Banjo, Mandolin, Dobro, Drums, Programming and Resonator Guitar.
āI had nothing keeping me from saying what I wanted, writing what I wanted, producing what I wanted,ā Hayes told The Tennessean, revealing his immersive process for what is Part I of III and the most personal, reflective and vulnerable album the 27-year-old has written, recorded, produced and released.
āI spent a lot of time writing as if the world was watching, and I decided to make a record as if no one was watching, and that helped me remove all my filters. Budgets werenāt an issue. Permission wasnāt an issue. The only thing that wasnāt happening is I wasnāt speaking my truth and writing it.ā
Wild Blue is named after the first song Hayes wrote for the record.
āAs soon as we wrote Wild Blue, I went into every conversation or co-write with that idea in mind and it led to some of the most honest realisations about myself and how I approach love and relationships. Iām so thankful for this journey and the path itās set me on personally and professionally.ā
The album includes his four previously-released songs, including latest single Heartbreak, One Good Reason, Dear God and One Shot.
The track listing and credits for Wild Blue (Part I) are:
1. Madness (Hunter Hayes, Sam Ellis, Sara Haze)
2. Wild Blue (Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges, Gordie Sampson)
3. Heartbreak (Hunter Hayes, Thomas āTawgsā Salter, Gordie Sampson, Simon Wilcox)
4. One Good Reason (Hunter Hayes, Sam Ellis)
5. Dear God (Hunter Hayes, Andy Grammer, Dave Spencer)*
6. Loving You (Hunter Hayes, Jordan Reynolds, Dave Barnes)
7. My Song Too (Hunter Hayes, Jordan Reynolds, Dave Barnes)
8. One Shot (Hunter Hayes)**
9. Night and Day (Hunter Hayes, Derrick Southerland, Sam Ellis)
10. Still (Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges, Tommee Profitt)^
Produced by Hunter Hayes and Sam Ellis
* Produced by Hunter Hayes and Dave Spencer
** Produced by Hunter Hayes
^ Produced and Engineered by Hunter Hayes