Multi-Platinum artist and BRIT Award nominee Matt Cardle gets a big year underway as he unveils his brand new single ‘Fading Lights’. It comes as Matt prepares to step into a new era with the release of ‘The Great Escape’ – his first new album in seven years – on April 10th.
Back on top form and boasting that remarkable four-octave vocal range, the album will cement his longevity and build upon his phenomenal achievements so far. A quick sizzle reel: three weeks at #1 and over a million sales of his debut single ‘When We Collide’; a #6 hit with ‘Run For Your Life’ and smash-hit duet with Melanie C ‘Loving You’; and a succession of hit albums including the platinum ‘Letters’ (#2), Gold ‘The Fire’(#8) and ‘Porcelain’ (#11).
‘Fading Lights’ is the sound of Matt Cardle returning with confidence – a feelgood quality that’s accentuated by the power and emotion of his inimitable vocal talent. A new year is a time for new beginnings, and ‘Fading Lights’ is a song that presents a potent reminder to keep a ray of optimism even when circumstances bring you down. Its positive fervour is fired up with the kind of soaring hook that can make it a future airplay hit, while dramatic percussion, sweet synth flourishes and energising sonic contrasts help maximum its contagious energy.
Matt says, “After waking up to the dark reality of the system we live in, there can be no going back to sleep. While absolutely powerless, Fading Lights was a message to myself to not let the system crush my spirit or kill my dreams.”
‘Fading Lights’ was written by Matt Cardle with the track’s producer Dan McDougall (Sam Ryder, Liam Gallagher, Bruno Majors) and Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, Kylie Minogue). Mixing was provided by Charlie Russell (Robbie Williams, Jamiroquai).
‘Fading Lights’ and the recent hypnotic slowburner ‘Drinking Dreams’ provide the first taste of 15-track new album ‘The Great Escape’. Over a decade in the making, the process saw Matt look inside to reconnect with his passion for songwriting as he opened up a wealth of emotions: the highs and the lows, love and loss.
The result is a record which sees Matt return to the peak of his powers. Stretching from infectious modern pop and soul to dynamic indie-rock balladeering, the album showcases a refined sound that blends classic songwriting with modern production, alt-pop embellishments and string-soaked arrangements.
Matt’s co-writers on the album include Michael Champion (Wet Leg), Ben Cullum (Jamie Cullum, Gabrielle), Danny Connors (Tom Grennan, Charli xcx), Tim Bran (London Grammar) and long-term collaborator Neil Wilson. While the album was produced by Dan McDougall, one song was co-produced and co-written by the multiple Ivor Novello winner Eg White (Adele, Florence + The Machine).
Matt Cardle’s career has taken him from the highest profile introduction possible – performing with Rihanna in front of a televised audience of 20 million – to soaring up the charts and achieving similar success on his own terms, and collaborating with big names as varied as Gary Barlow, Melanie C and Trevor Horn. He has also forged a successful parallel career as an award-winning West End actor with leading roles in ‘Memphis’ (2015, alongside Beverley Knight), ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ (2019), Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Strictly Ballroom’ (2018) and as Shakespeare in the the touring production of ‘& Juliet’ (2024).
Now, with ‘The Great Escape’, the time is right for his new-found creativity and confidence to reconnect with a broad mainstream audience. For Matt Cardle, the escape is his new future.
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