Michael Stipe (REM) already has a release date for his debut solo album

Four years after the release date that Michael Stipe had initially hinted at, he has revealed in an interview with the Los Angeles Times the date of the first single, which will arrive on New Year’s Eve this year, and the album – still untitled – which will be released in May 2027. Of the direction that this new solo era will take, we only know the preview “Hum Desiderata”, available only exclusively on the sound exhibition platform Joyfully Waiting, which arrived a few months after “The Rest Of Ever”, the song with which Stipe officially announced that he was working on his long-awaited solo debut. A few months ago we were also able to hear his song “I Played The Fool” for the soundtrack of the series “Rooster”although it is unknown if the song will be part of the album.

The American musician is known for having been the leader and vocalist of the alternative rock group REM from its formation in 1980 until its dissolution in 2011. Stipe and the band are considered pioneers of alternative rock, and for having inspired some of the groups of the alternative scene of the 1990s, such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Radiohead.

Stipe is working on the album with Andrew Watt—the leading producer of rock icons such as Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam, Paul McCartneyamong others—, mixing some of the songs they have worked on together, along with Andy LeMaster. Stipe has also revealed some vague details about the political content—due to his place in pop culture and reputation as an activist—or lack thereof by not addressing current issues. In these moments, Stipe explains, music is a powerful medium for the artist through which he is guided by his instinct as to what I can offer. The artist has announced that each song would have its own identity and would have a specific visual development, reflecting a way of working completely free of the demands of a record label.