NASHVILLE, TENN. – Musician/actor David Cook’s highly anticipated EP The Looking Glass will be released on April 16, 2021. The six-song set is preceded by three singles: “Reds Turns Blue” and “Strange World” in 2020, and “Fire” to be released on March 19, 2021.
The EP was recorded in Nashville with producer Andy Skib. Although the songwriting and recording process began before COVID, its effects were felt throughout the process – the inability to play the new material on the road, challenges of safer at home and social distancing guidelines to write and record – and is even reflected in some of the songs.
Last year, David gave fans a preview of the new material with the release of two singles. The first single "Reds Turn Blue," released in June 2020, is a nod to the manic highs (reds) and lows (blues) of anxiety, something David has struggled to overcome since his season seven win on American Idol. As David told People.com, “This song became a therapeutic process for me, as a way to personify my anxiety and make it something other than me — which in an odd way has helped me navigate my relationship with it.” To capture that struggle, David worked with artist Justin A. Nixon to create a visual that was “sci-fi and sinister,” but left open-ended to represent “that constant battle between anxiety and myself.”
And Strange World is “my homage to this year,” said David. “Staring out of windows at the world outside, feeling disconnected from it, and trying to find those moments that would normally exist outside, inside.”
The third, and final, single from the EP, “Fire” will be released on March 19, 2021. The song is about starting over – taking something, or someone, important to you, and building something new around it. “The song actually started as more of a slower ballad,” said David. “It wasn't until we got into the actual recording process that my producer, Andy Skib, pushed for it to be sped up. It gave the track such a different energy. One that I can't wait to dig into live.”
With touring on hold for the moment, it will be a while before fans can hear these songs in person, but David has continued to perform online including an upcoming livestream performance on SPIN's “Noise Pollution” series on Monday, March 15 at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET via TWITCH.
Wow, you have been busy! It’s helped all of us so much to have you stay actively in touch this year even though you were in the “quiet” phase of writing and recording. Very glad to see it all coming to fruition. And YAY for StageIt!
I’m so excited for April 16th and the new single coming next month. Absolutely love the album art work. It may be my favorite so far.
I absolutely love the title! The cover art is maybe my favourite of yours! I’m extremely excited for April 16! Can’t wait to see that artwork up close on the vinyl!
Can’t wait to hear it! Thanks for keeping us up to date. Stay warm and stay safe.