Vanessa Williams to Release New Album “Survivor” on August 23rd, 2024 | WATCH NEW LYRIC VIDEO!
ENTERTAINMENT ICON VANESSA WILLIAMS ANNOUNCES HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED FIRST NEW ALBUM IN 15 YEARS
SURVIVOR OUT AUGUST 23
August 16, 2024 – Today, legendary, award-winning star of stage, screen, and music, Vanessa Williams, announces new details about her highly-anticipated new album, SURVIVOR, set for release on August 23, 2024 via Mellian Music / Mod Squad, LLC. The 14-track album, which marks her first new release in 15 years, is an exciting, genre-defying collection of songs that reflect Williams’ rich and diverse musical catalogue. SURVIVOR will be available as a digital album in Standard audio and also in Dolby Atmos immersive audio across all streaming platforms – available for pre-order now.
“SURVIVOR is an eclectic collection of songs that embraces my musical past and brings that history into the present and the future,” Williams shares. “It absolutely represents me musically and has something to say. I wanted to remind my loyal fans that I’m still here, don’t count me out and to bring my music to a whole new generation that might know be better for my stage and television roles.” She adds, “Playing with all of the different styles of music I’ve loved to perform over the years is just who I am as an artist, which I really attribute to my parents, who were music teachers. I listened to everything growing up and that has always inspired my diverse musical tastes.”
The announcement comes alongside the release of Wiliams’ newest track, “iLike Moonlight,” and its accompanying music video, which provides another glimpse into what fans can expect from the new music.
The sensual, smooth R&B-inspired ballad is the third song to be released off the forthcoming album, following the first two singles – “BOP!,” featuring renowned multi-faceted artist and drag superstar, Trixie Mattel, and New York-bred electronic soul duo, LION BABE, comprised of multidisciplinary artist and Williams’ daughter Jillian Hervey and producer/DJ Lucas Goodman, also known as Astro Raw and Williams’ first pop recording in 15 years, “Legs (Keep Dancing),” which debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Digital Sales chart and surpassed a million digital streams in a matter of weeks.
Written by DeValle Groove Hayes, Loris Holland and Amber Mitchell, “iLike Moonlight” was the inspiration of veteran songwriter and producer, Loris Holland, known for his work with Celine Dion, Anita Baker, and Mariah Carey. “Loris was phenomenal,” Williams adds. “The song is very dreamy and kind of percussive and sexy.”
Holland is equally effusive about collaborating with Williams. “I grew up next to a 5-mile-wide river in the Amazon basin, moonlight hitting the water was always magical to me, always felt like the twilight zone,” says Holland, who was born in British Guiana. “This song was written for Vanessa, who is the queen of beauty and sparkle…I just envisioned her on the beach glittering like an emerald in the moonlight, soaking up the Caribbean breeze…and the idea for ‘iLike Moonlight’ was born. Her sultry, smooth, gorgeous tone and excellent melodic execution was the perfect marriage to the rhythm that brought this song to life.”
The song went through several transformations with Holland eventually bringing in his proteges – New York-based pianist Amber Noelle Mitchell and Texas-based producer DaValle “Groove” Shereef – to strike the perfect chords along with executive producer Tony Prendatt, a Grammy® Award winning engineer, who was also involved in finalizing the track. “More work went into that song than any song on the album,” he says. “And all the work was worth it. I think it’s a classic.”
Photo Credit: Mike Ruiz
SURVIVOR Tracklist
1. iLike Moonlight
2. Legs (Keep Dancing)
3. BOP! ft. Trixie Mattel, LION BABE
4. Survivor
5. La Costa
6. Vuelve ft. Romero Lumbambo, Roger Squitero, Marissa Lacata, Missael Mañon, & Anthony Almonte
7. Junk Man
8. Zaz Zuh Zaz ft. Wynton Marsalis
9. Come Dance with Me
10. On The Other Side of The Tracks
11. Here’s to You
12. I See You
13. Being Good Isn’t Good Enough
14. Come Dance with Me 808 BEACH Juke Box Mix
Bill Carpenter