Country fans will soon hear Steven Tyler with a twang — or something to that effect. His new solo single, the first off of his upcoming country album, is coming on May 13.
Tyler will premiere the single, “Love Is Your Name,” on the season finale of American Idol – a move that’s serendipitous of his last solo single, “(It) Feels So Good,” which also debuted on the show.
Prior to his announcement, Tyler teased on Twitter “BIG NEWS COMIN TONIGHT” and shared a photo of himself, Scott Borchetta and the top five Idol finalists. Tyler himself is a former Idol judge.
After rumors began swirling about Tyler’s country project, the Aerosmith frontman confirmed the news during a surprise appearance at the Grand Ole Opry at the end of March and officially announced that he had signed with Big Machine Label Group’s Dot Records in early April.
“There was an immediate connection with Scott and Big Machine, and Nashville seems like the perfect segue for a solo project … and Dot Records is the right fit,” Tyler says. “My earliest influences put me somewhere between the Everly Brothers and the Carter Family, and this project is all about me paying homage to my country roots.”
While a title, release date and track listing have not yet been announced, it’s clear that Tyler’s new record will be unique.
“Everything he sings is going to sound a little like Aerosmith, because he’s the voice. But he’s been talking about how he wants some of it to be organic,” songwriter Cary Barlowe, with whom Tyler has been writing, explains. “It’s obviously not going to be traditional country- or old-school country-sounding, but he does want mandolin and a banjo in there, to change it up.”
Tyler’s attraction to country music has been apparent since 2006, when he collaborated with Keith Anderson on “Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll.” He also has worked with artists like Keith Urban, Jana Kramer, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood for various recordings and performances.
