Brandi Carlile unveils first solo album ‘Returning to Myself’ in four years: Tracklist, release date, and more explored

Brandi Carlile is starting a new journey with the release of her new album Returning to Myself. The album, available October 24, will be her first solo disc in four years. Carlile, whose powerful voice and uncompromising storytelling have long served her well, has walked that thin line between vulnerability and power, and this record is already resonating with listeners for its unflinching candor.

This comes on the heels of a hectic period for the 11-time Grammy winner, who released a collaborative album with Elton John earlier this year. That album was an album of unity. Carlile is now looking inward, wondering what it means to be on her own two feet and yet be receptive to the community that is around her.

Brandi Carlile's Returning to Myself

The announcement was on everyone's lips the moment Brandi Carlile put it up online, with an outro for the title song and a haunting video by Floria Sigismondi. The reason she put up the video for fans to watch looked like a confession of struggling with loneliness, whether being alone takes courage, and ultimately deciding that it takes courage to go back to oneself. That honesty made the post go viral, with people reacting to the unapologetic tone of her writing as much as to the song.

Recorded with Andrew Watt, Aaron Dessner, and Justin Vernon, the album showcases some of the most compelling voices working in music today. Each of the producers worked separately with Brandi Carlile and sometimes together, infusing the album with dimension without ever diminishing its soul to its intimacy. Old friends like the Hanseroth Twins and SistaStrings are also here, making her footing stable even as she ventures into new texture.

The album features ten tracks, including Human, to which Vernon lends his hand, and A War With Time, which he also sings. Maybe most anticipated is Joni, a poignant salute to Carlile's friend and muse, Joni Mitchell. Another highlight is You Without Me, a redo of the song she originally sang with Elton John this year.

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The album also marks a new label partnership, with Interscope and revamped Americana label Lost Highway releasing the album together. It lands Brandi Carlile in new territory both musically and professionally, setting her up for another career-making performance.

Brandi Carlile has called Returning to Myself a challenge and a party. It is less about breaking with ties and more about looking within while still being present, something she offers as both more complex and more satisfying than the threat of doing it all alone. With October 24 approaching, the album feels less a comeback and more an extension of her constantly unfolding path.

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