Photo by Sally Taylor

Carly Simon has announced her first new album of original music since 2008. The heart-bearing lyricist, whose rich, husky vocal range has provided generations with the musical ammunition to combat vanity and the like with countered confidence, returns with the late-summer promise of 12 original tracks. Comes In Waves will arrive on August 14 and showcase the songwriter’s beloved qualities through a deeply personal set that underscores the quiet vastness of her proficiencies. As an initial listen, the artist has shared lead single “Howl.” 

Comes In Waves was primarily written and recorded at Simon’s Martha’s Vineyard residence. According to the press release, “[The record] does not attempt to recreate the past. Instead, it continues the conversation Simon has been having with her audience for decades, one grounded in truth, vulnerability, and a refusal to simplify emotion. It is a reminder of an artist still fully engaged with her craft, still asking questions, and still finding new ways to articulate what it means to live, to love, and to let go.”

Led by “Howl,” the album’s initial single represents a reintroduction of sorts, allowing the songstress to use her skill set to renew the emotional terrain she has climbed throughout her career. Co-written and produced with David Spencer, the track was generated to complement and support Simon’s unequivocal range while running through a range of emotions: fury, betrayal and aspiring forgiveness. 

“‘Howl’ lives in that space between betrayal and forgiveness, where anger has to be voiced before it can be released,” Simon shares. “It’s about letting the frustration out so it doesn’t sit and simmer. The song begins in anger, but it moves toward forgiveness and speaks to any situation where trust has been broken.”

The album was developed with a close-knit community of Simon’s friends, family, and longtime collaborators, who have been a significant part of the artist’s musical world for decades. On the LP, featured artists include the late John Forté and Simon’s son, Ben Taylor, who serves as singer, musician, producer, and songwriter alongside mom. Moreover, her daughter, Sally Taylor, adds vocals and created the cover artwork for the single. 

Comes In Waves will be released on August 14. Listen to the first single “Howl” below. 

Comes In Waves Track List

1. Howl

2. Maybe I Never Loved You

3. Peaches

4. Love Has No Ending

5. Mother Of Pearl

6. Slowly

7. Four In The Morning

8. The More I Look For You

9. Love The Way I Do

10. The Father Daughter Dance

11. Share the End

12. Do It Anyway