Keith Urban Explains Why Target Has The Full Version Of “Get Closer”
In anticipation of his upcoming album Get Closer, the Wall Street Journal caught up with Keith Urban to find out about the new music and why Target is the only retailer to carry the full-length album…
With Taylor Swift selling a million copies of her album “Speak Now” in a week and Gwyneth Paltrow not only doing a country movie but releasing a country single [“Country Strong”], it seems like country is having a moment right now.
It’s always a cycle of moments. Historically, the strongest thing for country is that it goes through phases of embracing things. In the 1950’s, it was pop songs. It morphs and evolves and is where it is today. For me, its about writing about the basic human condition and relationships.
Speaking of your writing, what is your new album “Get Closer,” about?
When I started writing it back in January, a lot of the songs started to have to relationship themes and that’s what the album started to resemble.
You have a lot of video blogs where you talk about the songwriting process on your Web site. How do you decide what goes into them and what to keep private?
I just like to use that as an opportunity to show fans what we are doing every few weeks. I like to get it on camera and bring people into the process. A lot of people want to know how things are done and what happens behind the scenes. As an artist you try to do that without revealing too much. Some of the process is meant to be elusive otherwise we rob ourselves if too much is explained.
You’ve said you’re going to structure your next tour around being able to spend time with your daughter with Nicole Kidman, Sunday Rose. How will that work?
It’s just about not being away from home for months and months at a time. It’s about spending time with my wife as much as my daughter. The good part for me is not only being home, but I’ve found the shows also benefited. We’ve all been to a show where the artists has been out on the road for just a little too long and the show suffers.
You’re going to be playing the half-time show during the Thanksgiving game. What are you planning to do?
We’ve got new album so I’m obviously going to be doing the new single, “Put You In A Song,” as well as incorporating the hits into the show.
You’ve taken some flack from your fans for the seemingly better and longer version of the album only being available at Target. What do you say to that?
It’s not uncommon for artists to find someone to partner with them. That’s just the nature of where we are today in the music business.
