Legendary OutKast artist André 3000 has thrilled fans with the surprise announcement of his eagerly awaited solo album, ‘New Blue Sun,’ set to be released later this week.
This marks the elusive legend’s first official solo album, although he previously contributed a solo disc to OutKast’s Grammy-winning 2003 double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. ‘New Blue Sun’ is also André 3000’s first complete offering since the release of ‘Idlewild’ in 2006, a collaborative effort with Big Boi.
In an exclusive interview with NPR, André 3000 shed light on the unique nature of ‘New Blue Sun.’ It is not a conventional rap record; in fact, it does not feature any vocals from the artist. Instead, the album spans an impressive 87 minutes, offering a mesmerizing and experimental experience.
Described as both minimalist and tribal, André 3000 showcases his musical prowess on a variety of flutes, the instrument he is often seen playing during rare public appearances.
Despite the absence of fellow hip-hop heavyweights on the album, ‘New Blue Sun’ boasts instrumental contributions from accomplished jazz musicians, including Carlos Niño, Surya Botofasina, and Nate Mercereau.
The eight-track album, void of traditional lyrics, features intriguing song titles such as “I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time.”
In his conversation with NPR, André 3000 shared the challenges he faced in recent years, finding it “harder” to write traditional lyrics and feeling dissatisfied with his musical creations. This led him to take a new and unconventional approach with ‘New Blue Sun.’
“That’s why New Blue Sun was something that I realized, whoa, I really want people to hear it. I really want to share it,” he said. “That’s my only gauge. I have to like it as a person, as an artist myself, because if I don’t like it, I can’t expect nobody else to like it.”
Fans and music enthusiasts alike are eagerly anticipating the release of ‘New Blue Sun’ to experience André 3000’s innovative and boundary-pushing musical journey.
