Maps of Music

Returning to Myself (2025)

Where the lyrics of Returning to Myself take you, and where it was really made.

Its song 'Church & State' was written on November 5, 2024, the night of the U.S. presidential election.

Key places

Henson Studios, Hollywood (2025)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Henson Studios in Hollywood was one of two studios used for the solo recording project from 2024 to 2025. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Long Pond Studio, Hudson Valley (2025)

Recording site Long Pond Studio — Long Pond Studio in the Hudson Valley was one of two studios used for the solo recording project from 2024 to 2025. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sunset Sound, Hollywood (2025)

Recording site Sunset Sound — Sunset Sound in Hollywood is listed as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Hit Factory, New York City (2025)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The Hit Factory in New York City is listed as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile
• Released October 24, 2025 via Interscope and Lost Highway
• Announced September 3, 2025, together with the title track as lead single
• The title track's music video was directed by Floria Sigismondi

Background

• Follows her seventh studio album In These Silent Days (2021)
• In 2023 she started writing and recording songs with Elton John
• Inspiration came from Emmylou Harris's album Wrecking Ball (1995)
• 'Church & State' was written on November 5, 2024, the night of the U.S. presidential election
• The song features part of Thomas Jefferson's address to the Danbury Baptists

Recording

• Made during a solo recording project between 2024 and 2025
• Worked on with Andrew Watt, Aaron Dessner, and Justin Vernon
• Sessions took place at Long Pond Studio in the Hudson Valley and Henson Studios in Hollywood
• When 'Church & State' was written, Carlile was in the studio with Phil and Tim Hanseroth and Andrew Watt

Cover

• Photography by Collier Schorr
• Creative direction by Catherine Carlile
• Art direction and design by Jacob Hassett

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born June 1, 1981, in Ravensdale, Washington; grew up in King County, near Seattle.
• Began singing country songs on stage at age eight; started writing songs at age 15.
• Began her career performing in Seattle music clubs with twin brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth.
• Signed with Columbia Records in 2004; debut album Brandi Carlile released in 2005.

Members

• Core band includes the Hanseroth twins, Phil and Tim, who have performed with her since she was 17.
• Her wife Catherine Shepherd has served as executive director of the Looking Out Foundation.

Career

• Breakthrough with the T Bone Burnett-produced album The Story (2007); the title single was widely featured in commercials and TV.
• Albums include Give Up the Ghost (2009), Bear Creek (2012), The Firewatcher's Daughter (2015), By the Way, I Forgive You (2018), In These Silent Days (2021), and Returning to Myself (2025).
• Has won eleven Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards, and received an Academy Award nomination.
• Co-founded the supergroup the Highwomen in 2019 with Amanda Shires, Maren Morris, and Natalie Hemby.
• Collaborated with Elton John on the 2025 album Who Believes in Angels?.
• Runs the Looking Out Foundation, which has donated almost $9 million to grassroots causes.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Metacritic reports 'universal acclaim' with a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from seven critic scores
• Lee Campbell of Rolling Stone UK wrote that the album finds the singer-songwriter at her most philosophically engaged
• Campbell also said she confronts mortality without flinching and insists that togetherness remains our finest achievement
• Marcy Donelson of AllMusic called it a personal, especially reflective album with quieter, tenderer vocal performances from Carlile
• Donelson praised its contemplative, wistfully melodic sound rooted in a bolstered folk sensibility
• Alex Hopper of American Songwriter described an evolution in Carlile's soul-touching voice and signature lyricism
• Hopper also wrote that the music moved from synth rock to pop
• Critics praised the lyrics, described as philosophical and spiritual, and the musical production

Records

• Debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 with 35,000 album-equivalent units
• Carlile's fifth top-ten album in her career and fourth as a soloist
• Debuted at number 30 on the UK Albums Chart
• Her third project to chart in the UK and second as a solo artist after The Story (2007)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• 'Church & State' was written on November 5, 2024, the night of the U.S. presidential election, while Carlile was in the studio with Phil and Tim Hanseroth and Andrew Watt.
• While writing the song, Carlile was listening to U2's 'Bullet the Blue Sky'.
• The album's inspiration came from Emmylou Harris's album Wrecking Ball (1995).
• The song uses part of Thomas Jefferson's address to the Danbury Baptists.
• The Discogs release notes list an included signed insert.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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