Elton John appears to have subtly introduced a new studio album by sending personalized letters to his fans.
The past 18 months have been quite eventful for the beloved British icon, who concluded his final tour with an impressive headline performance at Glastonbury Festival. Since then, he has made occasional public appearances, including at Dua Lipa's concert at the Royal Albert Hall, but Elton has notably kept a low profile.
It seems he has been busy recording a new album. Recently, a select group of devoted fans received letters from him, detailing his plans and promising a new album in the near future.
Fan forums have been buzzing with speculation, sharing screenshots of the letters. The new album was reportedly created in collaboration with Brandi Carlile, with Elton expressing, “when we met, I fell in love with her, and we connected straight away."
“It was a connection, a genuine connection, both emotionally and musically, and it has become one of the greatest friendships of my life.”
With some free time following the completion of his tour, Elton John opted for a new direction—a full studio album, beginning with "a blank notepad and a world-class band of legendary session musicians."
Elton John and Brandi Carlile worked together, along with his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin and close friend Andrew Watt, to create “a truly collaborative album influenced by our musical heroes and our shared journey.”
The recording sessions have been reported as extremely fruitful—20 days yielded 14 songs, with 10 set to be featured on the upcoming album.
“I aimed to improve as a player, singer, and writer, and to push my creative boundaries. It was one of the toughest creative processes I've ever experienced, but I couldn't be prouder of the result. I wanted to collaborate with Brandi because I recognized her talents, and I knew playing with her would be special.”
Interestingly, there’s also a website where fans can sign up.
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Are we due for a full announcement? Elton John’s last studio album, ‘The Lockdown Sessions,’ was released in 2021, showcasing various collaborations, including his No. 1 hit with Dua Lipa (and PNAU). To find his last traditional studio album, one has to look back to 2016’s ‘Wonderful Crazy Night.’
In a surprising turn, CLASH revealed news about the Elton John/Brandi Carlile project over a year ago through an unexpected source. During an interview with The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend, the UK rock legend disclosed that he and Elton talk nearly every day—
“Elton is very troubled by not knowing what to do next. He just went to LA to record an album with Brandi Carlile. They completed an album together in two weeks. He claims it’s one of their best works.”
Stay tuned for more updates.
Need a little more Elton John? Check out our CLASH cover interview from 2016.
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Elton John appears to have subtly introduced a new studio album by composing personalized letters to his fans. The past 18 months have been quite a whirlwind for the