Elton John and Brandi Carlile have teamed up for a new album titled Who Believes in Angels? Ahead of its release on April 4th via Interscope Records, you can hear the title track below.
Who Believes in Angels? was co-written by John and Carlile with the assistance of the former’s longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin as well as Andrew Watt, who produced the album. Started from scratch in October 2023 at Los Angeles’ Sunset Sound Studios, the project was written and recorded in 20 days. It features contributions from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Pearl Jam’s Josh Klinghoffer, and bassist Pino Palladino (Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan, David Gilmour).
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“This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made, but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life,” John said. “It has given me a place where I know I can move forward. Who Believes In Angels? feels like going into another era and I’m pushing the door open to come into the future. I have everything I’ve done behind me and it’s been brilliant, amazing. But this is the new start for me. As far as I’m concerned, this is the start of my career Mark 2.”
Carlile added, “I’m still reeling from the fact that I got to do it. I think all ships rise with Elton John’s standards for songwriting, and it was an incredibly challenging and inspiring environment to work in, everybody throwing in ideas, everybody listening to everybody else’s ideas. It felt like a family. The world is a wild place to live in right now. It’s hard to find peace and triumph. It’s a radical act to seek out joyful and euphoric happenings. And that is what this album represents to me.”
The title track features lyrics penned by Carlile based on a concept by John, with their vocals soaring in harmony as they sing: “What do you say we set the pleasantries aside?/ Even the diamonds look like rocks to the untrained eye/ What does it cost to buy back your soul when you die?/ What are the angels going to do with you and I?”
Besides “Who Believes in Angels?,” the album features “Never Too Late,” the Oscar-nominated song from John’s Disney+ documentary of the same name. All of this comes as John is recovering from a “severe eye infection” which has left him with limited vision.
Last October, Carlile backed Joni Mitchell during her first concerts in Los Angeles in 24 years, with John joining the fun on night two.
In May, Carlile will host her annual “Mothership Weekend” ahead of a summer tour of the UK and Europe. Get tickets here.
Who Believes in Angels? Artwork:
Who Believes in Angels? Tracklist:
01. The Rose of Laura Nyro
02. Little Richard’s Bible
03. Swing for the Fences
04. Never Too Late
05. You Without Me
06. Who Believes in Angels?
07. The River Man
08. A Little Light
09. Someone to Belong To
10. When This Old World Is Done with Me