- Music
- 06 Mar 25
John and Carlile's upcoming album features the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer as backing musicians, as well as Nine Inch Nails' Pino Palladino.
Elton John and Brandi Carlile have released 'Swing For The Fences,' a new single from their upcoming collaborative album, Who Believes In Angels? set for release on April 4 of this year.
It is the second release from the record, after the title track was shared in support of the album announcement last February.
'Swing For The Fences' is a high-octane rock anthem about being queer, taking pride in who you are, and persevering through adversity.
"I’m a gay woman, Elton’s a gay man, and we both have families and our dreams have come true," said Carlile about the track.
"I was thinking, wouldn’t it be cool to write an anthem for young gay kids out there that calls them into a bigger, more elegant, more fabulous life?" she added. "Just like ‘go, go! don’t let anything hold you back!’"
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John said that recording the track set the direction for the rest of the album. "After our initial difficulties, all the uncertainties started to dissipate when this song came together," he said. "It just sounded great.”
The superstars have forced each other out of their comfort zones to create a record where "ballads co-exist with raw rock and roll, pop songs and country-hued Americana rub shoulders with synth-heavy psychedelia," according to a statement.
Backing musicians include the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer, and Pino Palladino (Nine Inch Nails).
Who Believes In Angels? will also feature the Academy Award-nominated 'Never Too Late,' created for the Disney+ documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, released last year about his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
The record's concept was devised by John and Carlile with the collaboration of Andrew Watt, who also produced and wrote for the record, while John's long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin contributed lyrics.
A short documentary about the album has been released, marking the first time John allows filming of his writing and recording process.