Ahead of his highly anticipated North American headline tour starting on August 23, internationally acclaimed force and one-of-a-kind British rocker, Yungblud has released his fourth studio album IDOLS today. Listen HERE.
https://open.spotify.com/album/19PD2IPfceDn9fLAa05TFE?go=1&sp_cid=587bc6980cd5ebcee998d56b91db06cc&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop
IDOLS marks YUNGBLUD’s most ambitious body of work to date — the first chapter of a double album, with part two’s release date still to be announced. It represents a bold coming of age for the 27-year-old artist, whose previous two albums both reached number one in the UK, cracked the Billboard Top 100, and helped amass an astonishing six billion global streams.
The record arrives alongside a striking live performance visual for the focus track “Ghosts” — a haunting piano ballad showcasing one of the most powerful vocal deliveries of YUNGBLUD’s career.
Speaking about the song, he shared:
“It’s about comprehending mortality. I wrote it while walking along the banks of the River Thames, thinking about how many people had walked the same path and what might have been going through their minds at the time. We’re gone in the blink of an eye, and life is precious and fast. Don’t forget to live it.”
He went on to reflect on the song’s final moments:
“The outro of ‘Ghosts’ is one of my favourite pieces of music we’ve written for this album. I just let my imagination run. It’s inspired by opera, specifically The King and I. Everyone thought I was mad for referencing that in a rock recording session. But f*ck it. That’s IDOLS.”
https://youtu.be/3T5qM2mH3mw
To shut out all external influences and steer clear of the well-trodden, formulaic approach often found in mainstream studio songwriting and production, the 12-track offering that is IDOLS was recorded just outside of where Yungblud grew up in the north of England, with producer Matt Schwartz at the helm, Bob Bradley on additional production, and guitarist Adam Warrington. The first single ‘Hello Heaven, Hello’
harmonies” and “uniquely Yungblud” by the BBC. His latest single, ‘Zombie,’ saw Yungblud’s creative collaboration with Academy Award-nominated actress, Florence Pugh, in a heart-wrenching music video, an ode to healthcare workers (watch HERE). ‘Zombie’, arguably his most profound single to date, showcased a new depth in the musician’s songwriting arsenal.
On IDOLS, Yungblud explores the theme of hero-worship; how we look to others for validation, often putting others’ lives on a pedestal at the expense of the richness of our own experiences. Yungblud says, “We turn to others for an identity before turning to ourselves. Self-belief, self-reclamation, self-evolution and change. As we grow up, we lose our belief in magic and mystery. We begin to rationalize everything; our cage walls build up.” He added, “We compare ourselves to 15 different people before we’ve even had our breakfast”.
IDOLS is available now in digital, CD and 4 vinyl variants; standard black vinyl, limited edition signed “Distant Smoke” marble vinyl, indie exclusive signed “Supermoon” silver vinyl, Amazon exclusive “Wishing Well” magenta vinyl and Spotify exclusive “Hell and Back” two color vinyl. Each vinyl includes a 4-page lyric booklet and 1 of 6 collectible double-sided photo lithos – unique to each vinyl variant – designed to form a cross-shaped image when the set is completed.
Tomorrow, Yungblud will return for the second year of his curated festival, Bludfest, at the Milton Keynes National Bowl. The eclectic lineup will include global artists Chase Atlantic, blackbear and Denzel Curry, as well as British rising stars, Rachel Chinouriri and Nieve Ella. Visit Bludfest.com for more information.
On August 23, Yungblud’s 16-date North American headline tour will start in Los Angeles, CA, with support from Sawyer Hill across all dates.
For more details,
