Keith Urban Opens Up About “Breaking The Chain” Of Addiction in His Family
on Sep 13, 2024
Keith Urban is gearing up to release his 11th studio album
Keith Urban’s newest album, High, is set to hit speakers on September 20th. In a recent conversation with Billboard, Urban reveals that High was built from a failed attempt at another album, which he had planned to call 615.
The Grammy Award winner brought the potential album to his label in early 2023, and when it was not well-received, he returned to the drawing board. He shares:
“I attempted to make a very different record, and that didn’t pan out, so I scrapped it and followed my muse and ended up with this album.”
This new 11-song collection features the previously released singles “Messed Up As Me,” “Straight Line,” and “Go Home W U” featuring Lainey Wilson. The album concludes with the emotionally raw song “Break The Chain.”
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Keith Urban describes the creative process of writing “Break The Chain”
Over his career, Urban has proven himself to be a widely versatile artist with the songs he has created, from energetic party anthems to somber ballads and everything in between.
The Australian musician recalls working on the album with co-writer Marc Scibilia when “Break The Chain” poured from him like a confession. He picked up a unique guitar with an “interesting” sound, and this is what happened next:
“The opening riff was what I played, and I started singing these words and the song just came out. I had no intention of addressing some of my raising and [having] an alcoholic father.”
Keith Uban reflects on the inspiration behind the emotional song
“Break The Chain” is an honest song about stopping the pattern of dysfunction that was passed down from Urban’s father. He admits:
“I don’t know if my dad, who passed away a long time ago, would be okay with the song or not, but he would love that it’s truthful, and the intent of it is a forward motion of trying to do things different.”
Urban has been forthcoming about his previous struggles with drugs and alcohol in the early parts of his career. He told The Times:
“My dad was an alcoholic, so I grew up in an alcoholic house and it took me a long time to believe I was wired the same.”
The “Straight Line” singer says that he got sober while building a relationship with his wife Nicole Kidman. The pair now have two teenage daughters, Sunday and Faith.
Now, after more than a decade of sobriety, the wounds and lessons of his upbringing still inspire Urban’s music. He concedes:
“I guess I’m still working through things that I thought I was long at peace with.”
Listen to “Messed Up As Me” in the video below as we await the full album from Keith Urban!
