Blues singer Rag’n’Bone Man shares lead single ‘All You Ever Wanted’ from new album
Following a landmark debut album in 2017, blues/soul singer Rag’n’Bone Man has marked his return with the new single ‘All You Ever Wanted’, in the lead-up to his sophomore record’s release.
The forthcoming LP, Life By Misadventure, will be released on April 23 through Columbia/Sony as the follow-up to his award-winning debut album, Human. The multi-platinum record landed on the top spot on the UK charts the week of its release, became the fastest-selling album by a male artist for the entire decade and earned him both a BRIT and Ivor Novello award.
The debut album – which the achieved Gold certification from ARIA – spawned the hit singles ‘Human’ (5x Platinum) and the Game of Thrones-inspired ‘Skin’ (Platinum).
On top of Human, Rag’n’Bone Man made it big once again following his 2019 collaboration with Calvin Harris, ‘Giant’, a 2x certified platinum track in Australia.
Luckily for the singer – real name Rory Graham – Life By Misadventure was written and recorded in Nashville prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Produced by Mike Elizondo (Eminem, 50 Cent, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette), the record was put together with the goal to sound like a live album. Co-songwriter Ben Jackson-Cook, bassist Bill Banwell, backing vocalist Desri Ramus, drummer Daru Jones and guitarist Wendy Melvoin join Graham on the record to make this happen.
Marking three years since Human, Graham said he’s returned with a renewed sense of purpose on this album, having given the songs enough time to breathe on their own. Tracks on Life By Misadventure take a step back from the singer’s traditional blues sound and more towards the classic pop-synth sounds of Blondie and Bruce Springsteen, in addition to the country stylings of the late John Prine.
“We had quite a time to live with the songs this time around,” Graham said.
“Too often, how I’d done things before, was that we’d written a song and I had to sing it the same day, and that was the version we’d use on the album. This way, it was far easier to get real emotion into the music.”
As for the album’s lead single, Graham said ‘All You Ever Wanted’ was inspired by his native England.
“I’d felt sad looking around Brighton and London where I grew up…remembering all those cool places that aren’t there anymore.”