Heart have completed recording their first studio album in a decade, with Nancy Wilson confirming the new material is scheduled to be delivered to the band’s record label by the end of August. The development comes as Ann Wilson prepares for her first Australian solo shows in November with Tripsitter.
by Paul Cashmere
Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson has confirmed that recording is complete on the band’s first album since 2016’s Beautiful Broken, with the new record expected to be delivered to the label by the end of August. The Wilson sisters are also planning further international touring.
Nancy Wilson disclosed the recording news while discussing a recent Heart photo shoot. The guitarist explained that she had restored the pink colour in her hair because the band’s photography was taking place around the completion of the album.
More significantly, Wilson confirmed that the recording itself is finished.
“It’s really, really strong,” Wilson said. “I think it’s going to be great. We wrote a bunch of new songs and recorded down in Nashville with the players that we just played the last tour with.”
The Nashville sessions were built around a lineup that has developed substantial experience together on stage. Wilson said the familiarity between the musicians allowed the album to be recorded largely live.
“It was like a secondhand thing with each other because we’ve played so many live shows, so the album was pretty much recorded live,” she said. “I’m really happy. It really feels like a Heart record.”
Wilson said the band intends to deliver the completed album to its label at the end of August. A release date, title, tracklisting and label have not yet been announced.
The album news is particularly relevant to Australia because Ann Wilson is already scheduled to visit the country later this year.
Ann Wilson & Tripsitter, The Voice of Heart will perform four Australian shows in November, marking Ann Wilson’s first Australian tour as a solo artist. Dragon will appear as special guest.
Those performances are separate from Heart. The band’s current plans involve a broader international campaign, with Nancy Wilson indicating that 2027 and 2028 could become major touring years for Heart.
“Hopefully ’27 and ’28 will be the year for Heart world domination, basically,” she said.
The only Heart dates presently identified in the supplied schedule are two October performances at River Cree Resort & Casino in Alberta, Canada.
The November Aussie shows will provide an opportunity to see Ann Wilson perform Heart material.
The new Heart album will follow Beautiful Broken, released in 2016. It will be the band’s first studio collection of newly recorded material since then.
The period between albums included significant changes for the Wilson sisters. Ann and Nancy experienced a family dispute that resulted in a separation before eventually reconciling. Heart subsequently returned to touring, with the Wilsons performing together again and building a new touring lineup around musicians who have become closely integrated into the band’s current sound.
Nancy has previously spoken about the songwriting potential within the present lineup. The Nashville sessions developed that chemistry further, with the musicians who had spent extensive time performing together becoming the players on the new studio record.
The album also follows several years of solo activity from both sisters. Ann Wilson has continued recording with Tripsitter, while Nancy has maintained her own musical projects alongside Heart.
Ann’s latest Tripsitter album, Consecrated Ground, is scheduled for release on August 14, providing another Wilson-related release before the new Heart album reaches the market.
Heart previously performed in Australia in 2011 when the band toured with Def Leppard. A full Heart return with new material would represent a substantially different proposition from Ann Wilson’s forthcoming solo performances.
Ann Wilson’s November shows remain the only confirmed Wilson dates currently scheduled in the country. Whether those performances become a prelude to a full Heart visit will depend on the band’s forthcoming world tour plans.
Tour Dates
Tuesday 24 November, Gold Coast, Twin Towns Clubs & Resorts
Thursday 26 November, Adelaide, Thebarton Theatre
Sunday 29 November, Melbourne, Palais Theatre
Monday 30 November, Sydney, The State Theatre
Saturday 5 December, Brisbane, The Gabba, Carreras & Friends
Ticket Details
Tickets for Ann Wilson & Tripsitter, The Voice of Heart are on sale through Ticketmaster Australia. The Carreras & Friends event at The Gabba is also on sale.
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