Chris Young Says New Album Is ‘Really, Really Close’ to Completion
"We already have the first half completely mastered and it's done," he shared. "Everything's been sung. All the string parts have been played."
Chris Young is giving fans a taste of new music with his current single “Losing Sleep.” The lead track off his forthcoming seventh studio release, Young wrote the power ballad with frequent collaborators Josh Hoge and Chris DeStefano, and the song has the singer pushing his own musical boundaries with layered production, beat-heavy rhythms and soaring vocals. While he admits it’s a more radio friendly track, he promises his upcoming album will be a versatile one.
“I’m excited for people to hear it ’cause there’s a lot of stuff,” Young told Sounds Like Nashville before his headlining set on Tuesday (July 4) as part of Nashville’s Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th celebration. “‘Losing Sleep’ is right down the middle tempo radio thing. There’s a song on their that’s more of a summer vibe that’s got a cool steel guitar part on it. There’s a song that’s a big piano ballad. There’s a lot of stuff for people to really dig into on the album. I’m pumped for people to actually get to listen to the whole thing.”
Young says the album is “almost done” as he’s in the last phases of mix notes on the back half of the record.
“We already have the first half completely mastered and it’s done,” he adds. “Everything’s been sung. All the string parts have been played. All the musicians have been there and doing their touch-ups. It’s really, really close.”
His seventh album will mark the third time that Young has been at the helm co-producing. He’s working with longtime collaborator and songwriter/producer Corey Crowder again and says they have a “great rapport” in the studio together and often think the same way.
“When we don’t think the same way it’s normally to our help of each other and not the detriment. It’s a really great combination being in the studio and just a lot of fun,” he concedes.
Crowder and Young previously teamed up for the singer’s 2015 Gold-certified album I’m Comin’ Over as well as 2016’s It Must Be Christmas. The two were first introduced by Hoge and were co-writers before sharing the producer chair.
“We started becoming better friends and, as we started to become better friends, the songs got better and Chris eventually was like, ‘These demos are how I want my records to sound. Would you be interested in producing this record with me?’” Crowder told Sounds Like Nashville last year. “I was like, ‘Hell yeah! Let’s do it.’ That’s how all that started. It was very organic. It sparked this new life for me which I love. I’m forever grateful to Chris for doing that.”
Chris Young is currently on the road with Jason Aldean as part of the They Don’t Know Tour. His seventh studio album is due out later this year.
