John Oates, Rock and Roll and Songwriters Hall of Famer, and multi-time GRAMMY nominee, is making his return with a new solo album entitled Oates, set to release on Aug. 29.
Preorder Oats here.
On his new album, Oates retains the groove-oriented R&B and pop sounds that so many find synonymous with his work from the 1970s and 1980s, while seamlessly integrating more modern elements. Still, this new album is anything but a nostalgia grab, though. While creating the album, Oates was heavily inspired by the latest generation of talent currently dominating the airwaves, including Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, who front the eight-piece soul-pop band Lawrence, and soul singer/songwriter Devon Gilfillian, even inviting them to feature on the album. Clyde and Gracie Lawrence can be heard on the kick-off track “Enough is Enough,” while Gilfillian’s songwriting skills can be heard on the songs “Real Thing” and “Mending.”
Other inspiration for the album is drawn from Oats’ love of Bossa Nova, with songs like “Dreaming of Brazil” and “Bajo La Luz De La Luna,” as well as the moment we entered into a pandemic. “Disconnected” and “World’s Gone Wrong” aim to capture the dissonance from the normal that we experienced, exploring what it feels like to be completely alone while also reminding us to remain grateful for our loved ones.
Oates has put together a new band to perform these songs with him and already has four performances scheduled for later this summer: a kickoff show in his hometown of Nashville on June 29, Summerfest on July 4, The Rockaways on Aug. 24 and The Troubadour on Aug. 27.
For tour information, click here.
Based in Nashville for nearly two decades, and with early blues, roots, rock n’ roll, and folk at the core of his musical journey Oates has fit seamlessly into the city’s expansive Americana scene. While many of the genre’s he got his start with have made their appearance in various forms over the years, with Oates, the Stratocaster has been plugged back in and is basking in the grooves of this new album.
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