Elton John And Brandi Carlile Announce Collaborative Album 'Who Believes In Angels?'
Thursday, 06 February 2025
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Peggy Sirota
Elton John and Brandi Carlile have announced a collaborative album.
The long-time friends will release 'Who Believes In Angels?' through Island EMI Records on April 4. Penned by the pair with John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and producer Andrew Watt, the record first started to take shape in October 2023 at Los Angeles' Sunset Sound Studios.
Featuring both John-led songs and Carlile-led songs, with Taupin and Carlile contributing lyrics, recording sessions took place with an all-star backing band, featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, former Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, and bassist Pino Palladino. John commented:
"This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made, but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life. 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 two."
"I’m still reeling from the fact that I got to do it," added Carlile. "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."
Alongside the news, John and Carlile have shared the project's title track, an uplifting ballad that delivers soaring vocals from the pair. Check it out below alongside an accompanying making-of short film, which was created from hours of candid studio footage. It marks the first time that John has allowed his writing and recording of an album to be filmed.
The record's tracklist includes their previously released duet Never Too Late, a 2025 Oscar-nominated song that was recorded especially for the soundtrack for the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, which premiered on Disney+ in December.
The pair have also announced An Evening With Elton John and Brandi Carlile at The London Palladium for March 26. For a chance to buy tickets, pre-order the album here.
Brandi Carlile will also take her The Lost Time Tour across Europe and the UK in June and July. Head here for more details. Tickets go on general sale at 9am GMT on February 7.
'Who Believes In Angels?' tracklist:
1. The Rose Of Laura Nyro
2. Little Richard’s Bible
3. Swing For The Fences
4. Never Too Late
5. You Without Me
6. Who Believes In Angels?
7. The River Man
8. A Little Light
9. Someone To Belong To
10. When This Old World Is Done With Me
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