After nine full-length studio records, four GRAMMYÂ® Awards, and millions of albums, songs, and tickets sold worldwide, Keith Urban continues to explore. The singer, songwriter,

Graffiti U
- Keith Urban will release his 8th studio record, Graffiti U on April 27, 2018
After nine full-length studio records, four GRAMMYÂ® Awards, and millions of albums, songs, and tickets sold worldwide, Keith Urban continues to explore. The singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, continues to follow his curiosity.

â€œIâ€™ve always been creatively curious and I follow that passionately. Thatâ€™s why I work with different people, and on this album predominantly new people, giving me an opportunity to discover new musical sides of myself.â€

While his ninth studio offering Graffiti U, [Hit Red Records/Capitol Records Nashville] highlights a natural musical progression that began with RIPCORD, it also marks where Urban currently resides creatively. Itâ€™s this sense of presence during his writing and recording process that gives each of Urbanâ€™s albums an unabashed honesty and authenticity.

A soaring spirit spray-painted right from the heart, Urbanâ€™s curiosity powers each moment on Graffiti U. The very title speaks to that personal and passionate vibrancy, vitality, and vision.

â€œThere were no parameters or preconceived ideas,â€ says Urban. â€œI began this process with a completely blank canvas. Every initial spark is organic and then expanded upon, like the art of graffiti, so the name really fit the music. I also liked the idea of â€œyouâ€ the listener (or the audience), because this is an inclusive experience. And because of my last name we had a little grammatical fun and shortened it to Uâ€¦you get the idea,â€ he smiles.

Coming off the road in support of the platinum-certified 2016 offering RIPCORD, Urban began gathering ideas for the follow-up as early as January 2017. The creative process percolated from a series of personal playlists that shuffled between a multitude of different artists and musical styles that spoke to him. Shazam-ing anywhere and everywhere, he captured a variety of new colors and tones.

â€œIâ€™m the idiot standing on the table at a restaurant trying to get my phone close enough to the speaker to tag a song for my â€˜Tag Playlist!â€™,â€ he laughs. â€œThe playlists turn into my big palette of colors, that I take into the studio and paint with.â€

Large parts of Graffiti U were recorded at Urbanâ€™s home studio, Skeye Studio, outfitted with a vintage seventies Neve console. It transformed into the perfect creative haven where he could write and record on the spot with â€œno time limit or clean up required at the end.â€

Along the way, he joined forces with a bevy of multi-talented collaborators as he served as a co-producer and/or co-writer on all but one of Graffiti Uâ€™s 13 tracks. Those included long-time buddies - previous collaborators Greg Wells, Dann Huff, Mike Elizondo, and JHart, as well as new collaborators Julia Michaels, J.R. Rotem, Captain Cuts, Jason Evigan, and more. As a result of this varied list of collaborators, Urban then took his time in balancing the ebbs and flows of the albumâ€™s sequencing - as though he were creating a set list for one of his concerts.

â€œI realized I put together albums the same way I put set lists together at a show,â€ he goes on. â€œI literally take the exact same approach. I know how I want to start, how I want to finish, and what I want the musical journey in between to be.â€

Graffiti Uâ€™s opener and 2018 single â€œComing Homeâ€ [feat. Julia Michaels], is built on a sample of a signature lick from Merle Haggardâ€™s â€œMama Triedâ€ produced with J.R. Rotem and Urban over a cinematic soundscape.

â€œSonically, itâ€™s very city,â€ he remarks. â€œWhen I think of city, I think of being slightly lonely and lost. Itâ€™s often a place you have to be, but not where youâ€™re from. I remembered coming to Nashville and feeling a little bit of that. My dreams were here. I wanted to be here, but it was sometimes tough to be able to get into my car and drive home for the weekend. Whether youâ€™re a salesman, an actor, or in the military, many of us have a calling away from home. All of the texting and FaceTiming with your family isnâ€™t the same as being there. I think Julia summed it up perfectly when she said, â€˜I know itâ€™s only one call away, but itâ€™s not the same.â€™â€

The hypnotic and heartfelt â€œParallel Line,â€ co-written by Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Julia Michaels, Amy Wadge and Benjamin Levin, co-produced by Benny Blanco, Sheeran, McDaid and Urban, juxtaposes Sheeranâ€™s original raw guitar recording and a knockout vocal from Urban.

Urban personally plays the funkified bass line on the summer amphitheater-tailored â€œNever Comin Downâ€ where â€œhe takes the role of a concertgoer giving in to the magic of a great performance.â€ Then, thereâ€™s â€œFemale,â€ which he debuted on stage at the 51st annual CMA Awards in November 2017 and â€œMy Waveâ€ [feat. Shy Carter) that channels his love for the Caribbean.

Elsewhere, â€œDrop Topâ€ [feat. Kassi Ashton] revs up a story of driving to Coachella sound-tracked by a rip-roaring guitar lead and equally raucous cameo courtesy of Ashton. â€œGeminiâ€ paints an incredibly playful picture of his wife, while finally, â€œSteal My Thunderâ€ leaves the listener with another inclusive message, â€œYou can steal my thunder any time.â€

And thereâ€™s a lot of thunder to stealâ€¦

To date, Urban has landed 23 career number ones and sold more than 20 million albums. He counts four GRAMMYSÂ®, twelve CMA Awards, eleven ACM Awards, four AMAs, and a Peopleâ€™s Choice Award among his growing list of accolades.

Every time Urban explores, he connects.

â€œI create music from feel, and I hope people feel this album,â€ he leaves off.
â€œArt hits all of us in different ways at different times of the day, times of the year, and times of our lives. I feel like Graffiti U captures the spirit of my life right now, but itâ€™s an ongoing story.â€
Country USA
Brand UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
Manufacturer Capitol Nashville
Binding Audio CD
ItemPartNumber CDCAP3578
Color Multi-Color
ReleaseDate 2018-04-27
UnitCount 1
Format Import
UPCs 602567413578
EANs 0602567413578

Country	USA
Brand	UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
Manufacturer	Capitol Nashville
Binding	Audio CD
ItemPartNumber	CDCAP3578
Color	Multi-Color
ReleaseDate	2018-04-27
UnitCount	1
Format	Import
UPCs	602567413578
EANs	0602567413578

Graffiti U

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