Keith Urban Announces New Album ‘High’

Keith Urban is back with exciting news: his new album High is set to be released on September 20, marking its first release in almost four years.

High follows the 2020s The speed of the present moment, part 1. which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, one of his eight top 10 appearances on the chart, a tally that includes two leaders. The new collection follows Urban’s musical journey while simultaneously exploring themes of human connection, what it means to be alive, letting go, hope, nostalgia, shredding solos, pure fun and some revelations about his personal life.

“I’ve always been drawn to the subject of living in the moment, because that’s all there is and it’s hard to do,” Urban said of his latest project. “And these days, with so much ‘content’ coming at us, it can feel like we’re drinking from a fire hose.”

To give fans a taste of what’s to come, Urban also released new single “Wildside.”

Inspired by Joan Cusack’s character in School of rockthe song is a fun, party anthem. “By day, she’s a school principal, all squeaky clean,” Urban said. “And then, a couple of tequilas at night and all bets are off.”

He explained the inspiration behind the album title, High“What gets you high can mean whatever you want it to mean,” the singer said.

“It can be physical, spiritual, plant-based, meditative, chemical or musical, but it is definitely a place of utopia.”

For Urban, those effects come from his family, friends and the joy of playing live music. “Playing guitar, writing songs and the place where I always feel good – playing live. Every night I get to bring an energy and a release to people.”

However, create High It wasn’t all easy.

Urban explained that his busy 2022 touring schedule made it difficult to maintain a cohesive sound. “There was no continuity. The songs didn’t work well together. I learned that what I thought was a framework in which to create turned out to be musically limiting.”

The upcoming album features a variety of tracks, each with its own mood and story. In addition to “Wildside,” High includes songs like “Straight Line,” “Go Home WU” featuring Lainey Wilson and current radio single “Messed Up As Me.”

Urban’s career is still on fire. This year he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame by Dolly Parton, and returned to American idol as a mentor and performer, and has rocked the stage at major events such as the Heineken Silver Formula 1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas.

His Las Vegas residency at the Bakkt Theatre at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino was a huge success, proving once again why he is one of the best live artists around.

Urban High is available for pre-order now. Check out the High tracklist below.

High Track listing: