Iconic singer, songwriter, producer, and performer Rick Astley has announced details of his forthcoming seventh album. Entitled “50” – a nod to the landmark age Astley reached earlier this year –the album is confirmed for release on June 17th, and is his first new studio album in over a decade. Fans will get their first taste of his new material next month, with lead single “Keep Singing” hitting airwaves, and available to buy and download from April 7th.
Released by BMG, “50” is a blockbuster return to his musical roots, as Astley’s distinctive, soulful vocals meld with Gospel influences in a self-penned album that draws from his life and inspirations. Reflective, vulnerable, uplifting, and progressive; the virtuosity of Astley’s musicianship is never better demonstrated, with the Grammy-nominated hitmaker playing every instrument heard on the album.
Rick Astley said: ‘“50” marks both a new chapter in my journey as an artist, and a return to the music I first fell in love with. I could not be more excited to share it with my fans, and take these songs, that have been years in the making, out of the studio and onto the stage.”
The album is set to follow hot on the heels of a sold-out UK tour commencing this April – his first for four years – with fans able to look forward to hits from across his enviable back-catalogue, in addition to never-before-performed new live material.
With over 40 million records sold, and a vast collection of chart-topping hits on both sides of the Atlantic to his name, Astley remains one of the most successful solo artists to have ever emerged from Britain. His three decades in the spotlight have seen the music legend enter the record books for his early groundbreaking chart success; garner rapturous critical acclaim; and sell-out arenas on almost every continent, as he continues to leave an indelible mark on pop-culture.
