Keith Urban is giving an update on new music. Urban has already released two songs, both “Long Hot Summer” and “Straight Line,” from his forthcoming live album. The singer is recording the songs while on his global High and Alive World Tour.
“We have a live album coming out sometime this year,” Urban reveals on Country Countdown USA. “I’ve never done one. It’s kind of crazy. We felt on this tour, it was feeling musically special, the crowd energy was really special, so let’s start capturing some of these and see if we can do an album.”
In addition to his live album, Urban is also working on another record, the follow-up to his 2024 HIGH project.
“I’ve been writing quite a bit,” Urban reveals. “I’ve been recording quite a bit. I’m looking forward to getting back into the studio. That’s what I do. I don’t have hobbies. I love music. That’s what I do.”
Keith Urban On Tour
Urban’s High and Alive World Tour includes not only dates in the United States, but also in Australia, where he was raised, and Canada. Ever the evolving entertainer, the 57-year-old reveals he tailors his shows to the country he is playing in.
“We made a couple of song tweaks for Australia, songs that were released here that weren’t in the US, and some local covers,” Urban says. “I’ll do the same thing in Canada. I usually think of them as I’m driving to the gig.”
Urban recently shared a video of him getting emotional during his recent show in Brisbane, Australia.
“It’s the craziest thing,” Urban says on stage. “I’ve seen so many concerts here. Like, an insane amount of concerts, when I was in high school, when I got out of high school. …We would drive miles to come and see people play here. And for as many times as I’ve played here, I still can’t believe I get to play at Brisbane Entertainment Centre.”
For Urban, the show was a full-circle moment for him.
“I have a lot of history there,” he explains. “So many things about what I do, I learned by watching bands play there. It was a great training ground to be in the audience there.”
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Urban is joined on tour by Chase Matthew, whom Urban praises for his energetic performances.
“He comes out with a take-no-prisoners attitude. Two songs in, he has everybody on their feet. Same thing in Australia. He’s got something. He’s a motivational speaker and an entertainer.”
Keith Urban’s Current Single, “Straight Line”
“Straight Line” is current in the Top 20. The song, written by Urban, along with Chase McGill, Jerry Flowers and Greg Wells. When Urban wrote it, he was already dreaming of playing it live.
“I just loved the spirit of it,” Urban says. “I think if anybody has seen us play live, this song for me captures a lot of that feeling of what I’m trying to create in the room that we’re playing in, the feeling I want people to have. I felt like ‘Straight Line’ has that feeling about it, and it seemed like a perfect first song.”
Find “Straight Line” and all of Urban’s music and upcoming shows, at KeithUrban.com.
Photo Credit: CMA / Natasha Moustache