With recent release “Sweet Dreams” sending fans into a frenzy and pushing Koe Wetzel to a Billboard Hot 100 debut and the No. 1 album on Apple Music’s country chart with just three songs available, the journeyman turned bona fide cultural force continues to tease 9 Lives, his forthcoming fifth studio album set for July 19 release on Columbia Records, via today’s release of “High Road” with MTV PUSH Artist and Billboard 21 Under 21 honoree Jessie Murph. Listen HERE and pre-order / pre-save the album HERE.
“‘High Road’ is a good example of how this album shows a different side of me than people might expect. Every record’s almost turning a new leaf, always a left turn because of how honest I am,” he admits with a laugh. “But this? It’s what the people have been expecting from me, but we hadn’t gotten there yet. It’s a grown-up version of me.”
Written by Wetzel alongside Amy Allen, Carrie Karpinen and producer Gabe Simon, “High Road” has already become a fan-favorite on social media ahead of its release with lyrics that showcase that mature level of vulnerability that defines the still hard-rocking album:
Imma let you cool down while I walk out
You ain’t messing me up like the times before
I don’t need a ticket to your shit show
Knock yourself out and hit a new low
Imma take the high road, take the high road, take the high road
“High Road” joins lead single “Damn Near Normal,” title track “9 Lives (Black Cat)” and recent release “Sweet Dreams” in offering an early preview of the highly anticipated new album. Wetzel offered fans a further preview of the album’s multi-faceted narrative with a special trailer introducing nine unique Koe Wetzels as MusicRow’s “genre disruptor” praised by Billboard for “music that’s unvarnished and unfiltered” showcased his comedic acting skills. Watch HERE.
With an at-capacity Whiskey Jam performance already under his belt this week, Wetzel continues to share the new music with CMA Fest fans in Nashville, taking the stage at both SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour and at Spotify House tomorrow, June 8.
The Texas-born live phenom also plans to take his new music global this year with his recently announced Damn Near Normal World Tour. Additionally, Wetzel will perform prominent sets at several festivals, including Country Jam, Rock the Country, Country Thunder Wisconsin, WE Fest, Watershed and more, plus a hometown stadium show as he joins Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour in Arlington, Texas this July.
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It marks his first solo release since 2020
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Includes Live Version of Unreleased Viral Song “Pain Is Cold Water” & Live Duet Performance with Gracie Abrams on “Everywhere, Everything”
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