Calum Scott Unveils New Album ‘Avenoir’
Multi-platinum, UK singer-songwriter Calum Scott releases his hotly anticipated third album, Avenoir, via Capitol Records. The 14-song set showcases Calum’s evolution as both a vocalist and songwriter, with an ambitious sonic palette that balances his signature soul-stirring ballads (singles “Die For You” and “God Knows”) with groove-steeped romantic anthems like the previously unheard “Unsteady,” watch the “Unsteady” visualizer HERE. Also included is Calum’s stunning duet reimagining of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” alongside the late and legendary Whitney Houston.
Avenoir borrows its title from John Koenig’s book of neologisms, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, which defines the invented word as “the desire that memory could flow backward.” Reflecting on the concept, Calum explains, “‘Avenoir’ refers to how we move through life like a rower moves: always moving forward but facing backward, seeing where we’ve been but not where we’re going. The songs on this album speak to both regret and sorrow, and to undying love — a plea to live life to its fullest.”
That’s particularly apparent on the guitar-driven “Unsteady,” which finds the global hitmaker gripped by the unapologetic self-exploration; I’m a little unsteady, a little messed up, a little bit petty,” But, by the time the moving chorus hits, Calum is on solid ground, and celebrating his own love story admittedly unconventional. “I’ve found a place to go, now I’m standing all alone with you,” he belts, “’cause you’re unsteady too.”
Recorded with longtime collaborator Jon “MAGS” Maguire and production duo The Nocturns, Avenoir reveals Calum’s newfound freedom and growing certainty as an artist. “As I started working on Avenoir, there was a level of confidence that I hadn’t really felt on my first two albums,” he explains. “I realized I’ve put my foot firmly in the door of the music industry and I’m capable of doing so much more than I thought possible with my music — and it gave me a whole new sense of freedom, allowing me to evolve.”
Calum pushes his vocals to evocative new heights on poignant ballads “Die For You” and “Mad,” a heartbreaking letter to his future child, but also ventures into bold new territory with songs like the funk-laced “Peripheral Vision,” club banger “Roots,” and country detour “One More Drink” with Lauren Alaina. Avenoir also features “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – a stunning new version of the iconic Whitney Houston hit that pairs Calum’s vocals with Houston’s, marking the first time her original stems have been used. Recorded with the endorsement of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, the new rendition transforms the dance-pop classic into a symphonic duet that subtly magnifies the song’s mood of heavy-hearted longing. Watch the official video, which features archival imagery of Whitney, HERE. The release comes as fans around the world celebrate the 40th anniversary of Whitney’s historic career in music and entertainment, which began with her 1985 self-titled debut album, which is now one of her three certified RIAA Diamond albums in the U.S.
In support of the album, Calum will embark on “The Avenoir Tour” — a global headline run set to bring his phenomenal live show to 48 cities across Europe, South Africa, Asia, North America and finishing in his home country of the UK. With his latest live experience including performing at stadiums across Asia and Europe as support for Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour, Calum will take the stage at hallowed venues such as London’s OVO Wembley Arena, The Wiltern in Los Angeles, and New York City’s Terminal 5. North American dates below and the full itinerary can be found HERE.
Calum’s music has amassed over 10 billion streams worldwide to date. His gold-certified 2018 debut, Only Human, featured his 6x platinum smash “You Are the Reason,” boasting over 1 billion YouTube views on the music video, and 5x platinum cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own,” which earned a BRIT Award nomination in the category of Best British Single. The hits continued with his acclaimed sophomore album Bridges and a series of high-profile collaborations including “Where Are You Now” (a Gold-certified collaboration with Lost Frequencies that earned a 2023 BRIT Award Nomination for Best International Song), and “Whistle” (his Gold-certified collaboration with Jax Jones).
With his powerful voice and soul-baring songwriting Calum creates the kind of deeply resonant songs that are primed to become the soundtrack to our lives’ most meaningful moments. From weddings to end-of-life rituals, fans have turned to his music to score major life events and for solace in times of heartbreak and loss. His moving television performances have included Late Night with Seth Meyers, Good Morning America, LIVE with Kelly and Ryan, Dancing with the Stars, and TODAY while his songs have appeared on countless TV shows over the years (including “American Idol,” “The Voice,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” (and many more). In addition, Calum has garnered acclaim from outlets including Billboard, who praised his “stunningly pure voice,” The Huffington Post, who stated that “Scott makes an impressive splash…compelling,” and Rolling Stone, who declared that “[Scott] can give any listener chills”.