John Legend is entering a new creative chapter with his new project Muse, a 16-track studio album produced entirely by Pharrell Williams. The album is scheduled for release Oct. 23 through Republic Records and marks the first full-length project between the longtime friends, who have known each other for more than two decades.
The project represents a deliberate shift for Legend, whose career has been closely associated with piano-driven ballads. He said he wanted to move beyond that familiar formula and create something unexpected. “I wanted to shake up the formula and do something fresh and new,” Legend said. Muse blends elements of gospel, doo-wop, classic soul, Afrobeat, hip-hop and traditional standards, with influences including Nina Simone, Nat King Cole and Marvin Gaye.
The collaboration grew from Legend’s appearance on Clipse’s comeback album Let God Sort ’Em Out, which was produced by Pharrell. His performance on “The Birds Don’t Sing” helped inspire Pharrell to develop an entire project around Legend’s voice. The pair subsequently wrote and recorded Muse at Pharrell’s studio inside Louis Vuitton’s Paris headquarters, where Pharrell serves as men’s creative director. Pharrell also appears as a featured artist on several songs, including the title track, while Clipse contributes to “Bodies On The Floor.” Other songs on the album include “Pray For Ya,” “Her,” “Get Back,” “Are You Ok?,” “Under The Bridge,” “Next Time,” “Fireflies,” “Everything” and “Sail Off.”
Legend previously teased the new album with the release of “Daylight,” the album’s lead single. Daylight arrives alongside an official video, directed by ‘Prettybird’ co-founder Paul Hunter; check it out: HERE.
The latest single from the project, ‘Fireflies,’ also arrived with an official video. Directed by Hunter, the visual sees Legend’s piano performance alongside the Hollywood Cinematic Orchestra. Take a look at the video: HERE.
Preorder/presave ‘Muse’ – HERE.
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