Keith Urban‘s Flow State album is out. The record, full of yacht rock covers and one original song, is one he made almost by accident, after purchasing a new studio, and wanting to make music in it when he finished the renovations.
In 2025, Urban and his former wife, Nicole Kidman, quietly split up. It’s part of what made recording the songs on Flow State somewhat of a respite for Urban.
“[It’s] an unexpected group of songs,” he tells the Associated Press. “And a very unexpected record to find me when it found me, because it was very much a 180 of what was going on at the time.”
“The record’s called ‘Flow State’ for a really good reason,” he continues. “It really was about just constant movement. And yeah, it was a challenging record to make at the same time, for something that kind of sounds so effortless. It was quite a juxtaposition at the time. But I’m really grateful for the way that the record turned out. And obviously I’m very, very protective of my family, and I’ve remained that way the whole time.”
While neither Urban nor Kidman chose to speak publicly about their split, Urban worked out his heartache in the songs on Flow State. It also became an important message for Urban to share with the world, amid so much seeming strife.
“The music was almost an antidote to the stresses of the times,” the 58-year-old says. “And I think the reason it hits now is for the exact same reason it did back then, which is, there’s just so much divisiveness.”
The Songs on ‘Flow State’ by Keith Urban
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Urban chose some of his favorite yacht rock songs, including “Steal Away,” “Summer Breeze,” and more, not overthinking which songs would and would not make it onto the project.
“One theme, one feeling, one emotion that just lets us all exhale for a minute — and look up and see a blue sky — just for three minutes and 30 seconds, is so needed,” Urban says.
Amid the covers is one original song, “We Go Back.” Urban wrote the song with BRELAND in 2020, but didn’t record it until making Flow State. When he decided he wanted another artist on it, Urban’s manager suggested either Kenny Loggins or Michael McDonald.
“I said to the guys, ‘Oh my God, if we’re going to write a yacht rock song, imagine Mike McDonald singing in the chorus,” Urban recounts.
“Luckily, he loved it,” he adds. “But man, six years later to actually have him on this song when we just imagined him singing it all those years ago was just crazy. It was so surreal.”
Little Big Town joins Urban on “Magnet and Steel,” while John Mayer joins Urban on “Guitar Man.” See the track list below.
Keith Urban’s ‘Flow State’ Track List
1. Steal Away
2. Baby Come Back
3. Magnet and Steel (ft. Little Big Town)
4. Just the Two of Us
5. On and On
6. We Go Back (ft. Michael McDonald)
7. Help Is On It’s Way
8. How Much I Feel
9. Summer Breeze
10. I Just Wanna Stop
11. Guitar Man (ft. John Mayer)
Photo Credit: CMA / Natasha Moustache