Dierks Bentley Looks to the Past for Upcoming 10th Album
It’s been more than three years since Dierks Bentley released his ninth studio album, The Mountain. The project, which was inspired by his time living in Colorado with his family, spawned hit singles “Woman, Amen,” “Burning Man” and “Living.” Now three years and one pandemic later, Bentley is looking ahead to his 10th studio album, which has been in the works since early 2020.
“I’ve been working [on the album] since February of 2020 and I’ve gone in and recorded a few times, and it felt good, but it didn’t feel great,” Bentley told Sounds Like Nashville in a press interview. “So, I just decided to keep writing and went back in again about two weeks ago and it just feels so great. It’s my 10th album, and all the pressure’s coming from me. I just want it to be great.”
The hit singer-songwriter says the new album will feature “a lot of great country songs” and “a lot of great instrumentation,” complete with an abundance of fiddle and steel guitar. He also shares that the project, albeit new, will be reminiscent of earlier albums such as Modern Day Drifter, which featured traditional country-leaning hits such as “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do” and “Settle for a Slowdown.”
“It’s going to sound pretty different than the current songs I’ve had out, ‘Gone’ and ‘Beers On Me,’” says Bentley. “I’m trying to draw on some stuff I’ve done in the past — albums like Modern Day Drifter, but still give it a contemporary feel. It just feels good.”
Bentley has not revealed a release date for the project, instead saying that it will be a “while” before it’s out, but his excitement for the upcoming album is clear.
“I feel the way you should feel when you’re making an album, and I haven’t felt that way in previous attempts, but this time around, it’s just a great band and great songs and I’m really feeling good about the direction,” he says.
Bentley has released two singles since his 2018 album, The Mountain. His 2020 single “Gone” reached No. 2 on the charts, and he released his current single, “Beers On Me,” a collaboration with HARDY and BRELAND, in 2021.
