Apropos of the titleGraffiti U, Keith Urban approached his new album like a blank canvas.
), and Ed Sheeran to lend their colors.
“It’s unknown, it’s scary, it can be a complete disaster.
Keith Urban.Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Graffiti U’s menu offers a wide array of flavors.
He even dabbles in beachy reggae vibes (“My Wave”).
“It’s not something we’re ever comfortable talking about, but we absolutely feel it.”
If something speaks to me, I just move closer to it ‘cause I’m interested.
It’s really that simple.”
Below, the country star breaks down a trio ofGraffiti Utracks for EW.
Urban will be hitting the road later this summer with opener Kelsea Ballerini.
The tour kicks off June 15 in St. Louis.
“I had that sample in my head for a long, long time,” says Urban.
“Haggard does that to me, makes me think of home,” says Urban.
“With the expansion of love comes the expansion of fragility.
We walk around every day like we’re here forever, and it’s all hanging by a thread.
And I think all of those things start to come into my music.
And they certainly have on this record.”
As for the Coldplay connection, Urban had no idea.
It wasn’t the only surprise.
“At some point I was writing with Julia Michaels.
She goes, Hey, so glad you cut Parallel Line’!'
And I said How do you know about Parallel Line'?'
And she said, Oh, I’m a writer on that song.'”
(He later did some Wikipedia research on Castor and Pollux, which informed the lyrics.)
“That was Julia Michaels' line,” says Urban.
“She came up with it after me describing my wife.
