Keith Urban's Ripcord sees country star experiment with new sound
Funk legend Nile Rodgers, rapper Pitbull among collaborators
Fans might be in for a surprise with Keith Urban's latest album Ripcord, which sees the country star incorporating new sounds and genres.
"I don't feel any sense of parameters at all. You just get in and make music," the four-time Grammy winner told CBC News.
The New Zealand-born, Australia-raised artist worked on Ripcord, his eighth studio album, for the past 18 months and says he didn't hold back from experimenting in the studio.
"I think the record really, really reflects that much more than any record I've done before."
The 13-track album includes Sun Don't Let me Down, an upbeat collaboration with funk legend Nile Rodgers (who's worked with Daft Punk and David Bowie) and rapper Pitbull — whom Urban met through former American Idol colleague Jennifer Lopez.
The album's pop and dance influences continue through songs like Gone Tomorrow (Here Today), Wasted Time and powerful duet The Fighter with Carrie Underwood.
Still, Urban's country sound remains: he's already racked up number one hits with the singles Break On Me and John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.
Despite it seeming like a new direction for Urban's music, the singer noted that pop, rap, rock or other genres influencing country isn't new. (Remember Nelly teaming up Tim McGraw back in 2004? Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg has jammed a few times with Willie Nelson over the years).
Keith Urban kicks off a seven-city Canadian tour in July and will be the first act to hit the stage in Edmonton's new Rogers Place arena.
July 8 & 9 - Toronto
Sept. 10 - Vancouver
Sept. 11 - Kelowna, B.C.
Sept. 13 - Prince George, B.C.
Sept. 15 - Calgary
Sept. 16 - Edmonton
Sept. 17 - Saskatoon
"It's what the genre has always done. For me it feels like a continuation of what it is that I do," said Urban, who revealed that as a teen, he performed in a Top 40 cover band five nights a week.
That earlier experience with and interest in different types of music continues today.
"When you start to mix all that together over the years and I start writing songs, everything is going to have that fusion," he said.
"I'm the guy standing on the table in the restaurant trying to get my phone closer to the speaker," laughed Urban, who noted that he's constantly trying to identify new music, especially via smartphone app.
"I listen to everything. I'm a mad Shazammer."
