New Sturgill Simpson Album Coming in the Summer of 2016
Sturgill Simpson fans will have to wait patiently for another six months or so for new music for the Kentucky songwriter. But rest assured, new music is on the way.
Sturgill Simpson preliminarily finished the recording of his third album back in the spring of 2015 when he went into the studio with producer Dave Cobb. It was announced in January of 2015 that Sturgill Simpson had signed to Atlantic Records, and then in June of 2015, Sturgill signed a worldwide publishing deal with Downtown Music Publishing, setting the stage for the release of the new record.
According to a blurb posted by the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, which Sturgill Simpson will play in late June/early July, “A new album…will land in the summer of 2016. So when Sturgill and band visits Roskilde, they’ll bring lots of new tunes.” Sturgill has explained previously that he is resisting the urge to play any new music from the new album in concert because he doesn’t want to create any false expectations in the minds of listeners.
The information out of Roskilde also corroborates with the timeline Sturgill presented in a new GQ feature posted Thursday (1-7).
“What’s next is already finished,” Sturgill told GQ. “I don’t want to put it out just yet, because I know I’m just going to have to turn around and do what I just did all over again. Quite honestly, I need about six months at home with my family. And hopefully, instead of being out on the road, I’ll be doing what’s-next-what’s-next, you know? For me it’s all about being in the moment and having freedom.”
In the interview, Simpson also assured that the artistic expression on the new record wasn’t hindered by anyone else’s timeline.
“In the mechanics of the industry, the art comes last. But the art is what can’t be put on a timeline. You can’t say, ‘Well, I’m going to make a record in May because that’s when the producer has a window.’ So just recording and getting things out is paramount for me. That has to be spontaneous. You’re gonna bottle this time capsule. You don’t want the band to even know the songs.”
As far as what listeners might expect, Sturgill dropped some hints on this point as well.
“I just don’t see myself as a songwriter or a country singer or any of those things anymore,” he said. “It’s more trying to express ideas and emotional textures. Everything from the writing to the production to the performance and how it all comes together. All I’m really interested in musically is trying to make concept albums. Serving a larger sum than the parts. I just can’t sit down and write three verses and a chorus and a bridge anymore. It (sic) just don’t find it inspiring.”
The GQ interview was part of an expansive, four-part feature from the magazine that also includes Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton, calling them Three Country Badasses Shaking Up the Nashville Establishment. GQ also interviewed Jason Isbell, who they called the New King of Americana Music, and Chris Stapleton, who GQ dubbed Country Music’s Cinderella Story.
In Stapleton’s interview, he tipped his hat to Strugill Simpson’s last album, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, as inspiring him to work with producer Dave Cobb, and to take a similar live approach to the record.
“Yeah, well, I liked the sound of that record,” Stapleton says. “Sonically, I didn’t know that something like that could still exist. I thought it was something we had lost to modern techniques, technology, something. In the past, I’d never gotten engineers or producers to really go for it the way that I heard it in my head. But [producer] Dave Cobb is not afraid to do anything. He’s not afraid of anything in the studio. He’s not afraid to make a record that doesn’t sound like what else is going on. He doesn’t compare the sound of a record to other records. He says, ‘I want to make it sound like whatever this is supposed to sound like.’ And that’s a radical thought process.”
Unspoken is the possibility that Sturgill’s commercial success with Metamodern allowed Stapleton’s label to warm to the idea of doing a record with the Dave Cobb approach.
– – – – – – – –
The summer of 2016 seems a long way away when you’re waiting for new music from one of your favorite artists, but it’s also assuring to know new Sturgill Simpson music is on the way nonetheless.
ElectricOutcast
January 7, 2016 @ 7:57 pm
With what’s being said around the grapevine about this new album, should be an interesting album to listen to. I will say this also: I love the three way picture GQ made of Stapleton, Simpson and Isbell I think they should make a poster and hang it in honky tonks.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
January 7, 2016 @ 8:10 pm
I am afraid that the Sturgill hype cooled off for me. And what with all the Stapleton buzz I think Sturgill will be fighting an uphill battle to win back the attention span of a lot of people. I’m afraid that taking so long between albums may cost him.
Convict Charlie
January 7, 2016 @ 8:19 pm
Major labels work slow just about always. Bureaucracy of the whole organization just isn’t conducive for it. On the other hand can’t be many people who bought the last one who will not buy the next one.
Trainwreck92
January 7, 2016 @ 8:20 pm
Well, I don’t think Sturgill is as invested in mainstream appeal as Stapleton is, so I don’t know that he would really mind too much if his star might start to shine a little less bright. I’m sure he’s very happy with the money that his new found fame is bringing in, but he just seems like a guy that wants to make music whether he’s in the limelight or not.
Jayson W
January 7, 2016 @ 9:41 pm
That’s exactly what i think.
Stapleton is amazing and deserving but i think Sturgill would’ve looked somewhat uncomfortable paired with Timberlake on national television. His reluctance to be anything other than a working artist is obvious…and more power to him. As long as he continues to pump out soulful, thoughtful music and put on wildly energetic concerts, I’ll be with him.
hoptowntiger94
January 7, 2016 @ 9:32 pm
I couldn’t disagree with you more. If Sturgill would have released the album sooner, he’d be competing with Isbell and Stapleton right now. By this summer, those two will have cooled off and all the attention will be all Simpson’s.
It’s only been a year a 8 months since the release of Metamodern. He still got a lot of traction from that album through 2015. This past spring he was the belle of the ball at Coachella.
I like when artists puts some distance between releases (unless the album sucked).
Tom
January 7, 2016 @ 10:04 pm
Meta modern was release May 2014, not 2015. So its been 20 months.
hoptowntiger94
January 7, 2016 @ 10:30 pm
Yes. A “year and 8 months” = 20 months.
Tom
January 8, 2016 @ 8:48 am
Yup, I 100% read that comment wrong the first time.
marc
January 7, 2016 @ 10:35 pm
Hoptowntiger may have made a slight typo “It”™s only been a year a 8 months” looks as if “a” was meant as “and” which would give us 20 months.
Big Cat
January 8, 2016 @ 8:19 pm
Jesus y’all over think this shit.
But Chris Stapleton writes about whiskey and Kenny Chesney’s pirates & poets while Sturgill writes arguably one one of the greatest country/Americana albums of all time (and High Top Mtn. ain’t far behind) .
I like Stapelton but song writing doesn’t hold candle to Simpson
Katrina Swift
February 17, 2016 @ 12:13 am
stapletons songs tear your heart out because you relate so hard to them and his voice is like an opra singer that takes you on an emotional roller coaster but country music. his boots have not only felt asphalt like most of his peers. they know dirt. he plays real music because he is real and one of the greatest song writers to have lived and not just country. the amount of number ones and extent of his catalog is insane to think about. musicians would kill to be able to do what he does. On sturgill I do not disagree. That album is one of the best ever written and he wrote it in 4 days while recording it. Hes changed the discussion in country music, im country as fuck but i dont relate to half the shit on the radio. I love all kinds of music and both of those guys are so much more than country. just so much love
Bill Goodman
January 9, 2016 @ 7:38 pm
If it does come out in 6 months, that would put it to 25 months since the last release. That’s pretty typical of most musicians and bands, especially those signed to major labels.
Mike W.
January 7, 2016 @ 8:35 pm
Very good news, now we just need to find out what the hell the holdup on new Jamey Johnson music is. Especially since by all reports his disputes with his label and publisher have been resolved.
Also would be nice to hear about some new Chris Knight stuff in 2016
Blackwater
January 7, 2016 @ 10:07 pm
Agree, can’t wait for Chris Knight, his last album was killer.
RD
January 8, 2016 @ 7:56 am
I’ve been wondering when Chris Knight would have a new album ready, too. I read an interview with him last year, where he sounded a little dejected and said that he wouldn’t think about a new album until he sold more copies of his last album.
Rob
January 8, 2016 @ 9:58 am
Jamey Johnson has been my favorite singer for a while. He isn’t a guy who likes to go do interviews, so you rarely get new news about him. It is annoying waiting and not knowing much, but I think he could possibly spontaneously drop an album. Problem is, it could be in a couple months, or a couple years. Hopefully he drops a new album soon
Devil Anse
January 7, 2016 @ 10:20 pm
All of this that’s happening is eerily parallel to the Outlaw movement of the ’70s. First off, you had Kris Kristofferson, the masterful songwriter who people wanted to cover, and now we have Zac Brown covering one of Jason Isbell’s masterfully written songs. Next, Willie Nelson was able to get a considerable amount of commercial success while doing music his own way, and now we have Chris Stapleton doing exactly that. Finally (sorry to compare Sturgill to Waylon once again), Waylon Jennings, while not reaching the commercial heights of Willie, did his own music the way he wanted to, and garnered critical acclaim for it; Now we have Sturgill Simpson, who isn’t really known in the mainstream eye, but is one of the most critically upholded artists in current music.
If any of those sentences are run-ons, I apologize.
Cecil
January 8, 2016 @ 1:03 am
Exactly my thoughts you put it well. I scrolled down to type that some story/thought
Tunesmiff
January 8, 2016 @ 3:27 am
My son and I were talking about something like this last week- all that’s needed now is a new Cash and it’ll be time for a meta-modern Highwaymen collaboration ~ Jamey Johnson maybe?
Coop
January 8, 2016 @ 7:41 am
Whitey. Jamey isn’t consistent enough. How long ago was that last record?
LG
January 8, 2016 @ 4:09 am
I have this gut feeling that this new record is going to sound sort of like a Beck album. That’s not a bad thing, but it might alienate some of his early supporters.
Bill Goodman
January 9, 2016 @ 7:41 pm
I hope you’re wrong. Nothing against Beck.
BanditDarville
January 8, 2016 @ 4:22 am
“I just don”™t see myself as a songwriter or a country singer or any of those things anymore,” he said.
Ruh-roh.
Jim Bob
January 8, 2016 @ 6:28 am
Pretty sure he’s said previously he never considered himself a “country singer,” but whatever came out of his mouth would sound country as hell anyway. Or something like that.
After his first 2 albums I trust the guy knows what he’s doing. Not too worried.
BanditDarville
January 8, 2016 @ 8:06 am
I agree, his catalog speaks for itself. His comment just took me back a bit.
Richk
January 8, 2016 @ 8:22 am
See: Bob Dylan
Dude is trying to be 1) a person and 2) an artist.
Kudos to him.
Don
January 8, 2016 @ 3:08 pm
You aren’t alone. He can put out whatever he wants, but that doesn’t mean I have to buy it if his “artistry” doesn’t appeal to me.
Coop
January 8, 2016 @ 7:43 am
Half of the tracks from Metamodern wouldn’t be considered “country” by some of the people that comment here. If you don’t think the man knows what he’s doing after the Sunday Valley days and the last two records, then you’re past the point of convincing.
BanditDarville
January 8, 2016 @ 8:03 am
I don’t believe I’ve ever said that I don’t think Sturgill Simpson knows what he’s doing. If I’ve written ten comments on this site total I’d be surprised. But if you can prove that I did write that, then I will readily apologize and take ownership of it.
His comment just took me back a little bit. If my comment offended you, I apologize.
Jack Williams
January 8, 2016 @ 8:11 am
I was a little taken aback or surprised as well. More by the “songwriter” part of the comment.
SRiedel
January 11, 2016 @ 1:40 pm
And in this day and age of “country music”, I think he was referring to those sucking on the Nashville teat. With that in mind, I would say he’s definitely not a country singer… THANK GOD!!!!
Joco Blake
January 8, 2016 @ 6:37 am
I can’t wait for the new release,but some of his comments have me a little worried.I heard on the Joe Rogan Podcast that Sturgill only planned on making 5 albums.
Coop
January 8, 2016 @ 7:43 am
How dare he want to spend time with his family and enjoy his time here on Earth instead of pandering to his fanbase!
Joco Blake
January 8, 2016 @ 7:53 am
Coop,
I’m not worried about the amount of music he decides to make or not make.I just stated the fact he said 5 was the number. What worries me us he says he’s not a country singer.The guy can be a little eccentric .Oh yeah and thanks for being THAT guy.
Trigger
January 8, 2016 @ 9:56 am
I’ve been saying this for a while, and I hold pat: I wouldn’t rely too much on that 5 album limit quote. It may come true, it may not. Some artists have this fatalist outlook on their careers, and more times than not, hard and fast limits set at some point on albums or touring get blown through all the time. We also see this in sports, movies, etc. etc. An artist’s passion is to create, and when they’re in the grind of a 9 month tour, stopping at some point sounds good to them. Then they stop, and they become restless. I’m not saying Sturgill is lying or anything. I’m just saying I’ll believe it when I see it. Also, that quote came before the Atlantic signing and some other things, so who knows how the calculus has changed now.
Joco Blake
January 8, 2016 @ 11:36 am
That’s a good point Trigger he did make those comments before a major label signing.I think his wife had just given birth about the same time too.It may have been homesickness on his part.
Before FM
January 11, 2016 @ 1:09 am
I listened to the podcast and if memory is correct Sturgill referred to the 5 album limit as the length or term of his relevancy.
RedDirtCyclone
January 8, 2016 @ 6:45 am
Best news I have heard all year!
GregN
January 8, 2016 @ 7:00 am
Can there be any bigger compliment to Sturgill/Metamodern than Chris Stapleton gave as quoted above? That the 2014 Album of the Year begat the 2015 Album of the Year? Obviously Cobb played a HUGE role, but I bet even he would’ve struggled with lesser material than what Sturgill brought to the studio.
And to think we were wondering if Metamodern was ‘trailblazing’ or capable of opening doors for others of quality. I think Sturgill just achieved immortality.
Richk
January 8, 2016 @ 8:31 am
Isbell said in his interview that is part of this:
I don’t believe all music is okay. I don’t believe all music is good. I believe some music is bad for people to listen to. I think it makes their taste worse, I think it makes their lives worse, I think it makes them worse people. Some things you have to refuse, not because of other people’s image of you but because it will gradually erode you….
Whoah.
His interview is very inspiring to me, might just be hitting me at the right time. Talks a ton about gratitude and how he thinks about living truthfully…tks for that.
http://www.gq.com/story/jason-isbell-king-of-americana-music
Tom
January 8, 2016 @ 9:05 am
Haha I loved how Isbell said that, and Stapleton, when asked if there is a good and evil side to Nashville, replied something like “No, if people genuinely like music, how is that a bad thing”.
Not that either opinion matters or is right or wrong, just funny to hear
Justin Adams
January 8, 2016 @ 3:05 pm
With Sturgill on Atlantic Records, do you think he will start getting some airplay on mainstream country? I wish he could include turtles all the way down on his new record again. I’d love to hear that on radio haha
Trigger
January 8, 2016 @ 3:23 pm
It’s more plausible that Sturgill will have a radio single now that he’s on a major label. However, since he’s not on the Nashville arm of Atlantic, but the New York-based office, it’s less likely we’ll hear it on country radio. It also makes it more likely that Sturgill might be considered for awards like CMA’s or Grammy’s.
Boss
January 8, 2016 @ 5:38 pm
Thanks for the much awaited update Trigger. Can’t wait to hear it!
Big Cat
January 8, 2016 @ 8:27 pm
Maybe if he wears a drench coat and a cowboy hat he’ll win a CMA
ShadeGrown
January 9, 2016 @ 9:04 am
A lot of the quotes I read from Simpson make me think he is a fucking fart sniffing asshole. Such as everything he told GQ that was in this article. I Like his first 2 albums though.
Briley81
January 9, 2016 @ 10:03 pm
Examples?
ShadeGrown
January 10, 2016 @ 10:09 am
Read the article and like I said everything he was quoted to have said to GQ. WTF?
Briley81
January 10, 2016 @ 11:03 am
I did read it I’m not Baiting you at all I’m Genuinely Curious. He didn’t seem to say anything different than he usually does.
ShadeGrown
January 10, 2016 @ 11:40 am
I just think he takes himself and what he is generally writing about a bit too serious.
Jayson W
January 9, 2016 @ 6:07 pm
Why so much shade? He wrote and released 2 albums and toured the world for 2 years. Take a look at his tour itinerary and then complain about wanting to spend time at home. The new album is, apparently, finished. We’re not dealing with an R.R. Martin. Sturgill has shown he has pretty good instincts with his career so far. So, I will wait until he’s ready for us to hear it.
As far as radio, Stapleton and “fart sniffing” are concerned……..Stapleton is an amazing singer and songwriter. And as a songwriter, he has immersed himself as a member of the Nashville elite. You don’t write songs for Alan Jackson, George Strait, Luke Bryan and Adele and not become a known commodity in the Nashville circle of elites.
And as they do, that elite circle chose one of their own to ascend. No one can fault the man for grabbing that brass ring, but I found it strange that an artist who had sold only a handful of albums was nominated for a truckload of trophies, was being showcased in prime time with a big name pop icon, then goes on to win those trophies and is heralded as a Cinderella.
Chris is supremely talented. But he was selected because he chose to play ball. Sturgill ain’t that guy. So Chris might get the trophies and the radio play, but don’t, for one second, believe he’s a hard struggle guy who simply impressed the right people……far from it. He’s getting what Sturgill doesn’t want. He’s doing what Sturgill won’t do.
And if ShadeGrown was King Turd, he’d be sniffing his own farts, too.
Briley81
January 9, 2016 @ 10:02 pm
I Absolutely love How Isbell didn’t pull any punches in the last part of his interview. Sturgill and Chris are known to play it safe in regards to the Current music climate. I get why they do it. It doesn’t bother me, But Isbell had a drop the Michrophone moment that made me Scream aloud in my living room!!! Needed that big time.
On another note….
Does anyone else feel like Now is a perfect time for the Waylon Jennings story to be told on the big screen? SHOOTER!! The IRON IS HOT brother. let Your dad’s story help change music once again.
D
January 14, 2016 @ 9:51 pm
worth pasting….
What guidelines do you go by for career decisions? Offers, money, sponsorships””the things being put in front of you.
Isbell:
I just look at who I was the first year that I played in a rock ‘n’ roll band and I ask, “Would I have thought that was bullshit back then?” And usually, if I would have then, I still will now. The context””why you play music in the first place””I want to keep that as intact as possible. When I joined the Truckers, I was 21 and riding in the van with guys who were a generation older than me. And we spent a lot of time talking about what was bullshit, what was not real. And I don’t believe all music is okay. I don’t believe all music is good. I believe some music is bad for people to listen to. I think it makes their taste worse, I think it makes their lives worse, I think it makes them worse people. Some things you have to refuse, not because of other people’s image of you but because it will gradually erode you until you are making music that’s not good for people and you’re not challenging listeners and you’re not challenging yourself. I believe that, and I will always believe that if I have my way.
Toby in AK
January 10, 2016 @ 7:41 pm
I’m skeptical about this new album. I’ll still listen to it of course, how could I not? I just see Sturgill becoming the country music artist for people that don’t like country music. It seems like that’s becoming his niche. His first solo album blew me away, when he talks it down I wonder if he’s tired of playing country music. We’ll see.
On the other hand, I’m a little happy to hear that he’s worn out on writing songs. If he’s paired up with the right songwriters his music could reach new heights. He’s not the best songwriter, in my opinion, and even the greats usually sang other people songs. I’m curious to see what this looks like, Sturgill could potentially be a great song interpreter. Some of my favorite songs of his were covers.
Jake
January 11, 2016 @ 9:12 am
Toby I agree 100%, hope we are wrong but he is quickly becoming the one token ”country” artists that all the hipster elitist indie fans love. The Pitchfork crowd. His comments also sound like someone who doesn’t like being seen as country. Who knows, he could come out and drop the most country outlaw record of all time, but I could just as easily see him switch styles completely. It will be interesting to see.
Motown Mike
January 14, 2016 @ 8:18 pm
What are the odds that Atlantic forces Sturgil to record a Sam Hunt-Jason Aldean-Cole Swindell type of song called; for example “Bectha Gonna Wanna”, “Beercan Babe” or “Cornfield Christian” or something along those bro-pop lines? Am I worrying too much that they’ll hold him hostage until he records radio friendly material in the way that MCA has held Josh Turner hostage because he stayed true to his neo-traditional roots?
Trigger
January 14, 2016 @ 8:48 pm
The odds are 0/100. Sturgill did not sign with Atlantic Records Nashville, he signed with Atlantic Records out of New York. He signed a deal that gives him complete creative control (or so the word is).