Michael Stipe has released his first ever solo single since leaving R.E.M. eight years ago – listen to it below.
The former frontman of the legendary U.S. rock band revealed earlier this week that he would be releasing ‘Your Capricious Soul’ this weekend.
“I took a long break from music, and I wanted to jump back in,” Stipe said in a statement. “I love “Your Capricious Soul” — it’s my first solo work. I want to add my voice to this exciting shift in consciousness.”
Available exclusively through Stipe’s official website, proceeds from the track, which was previewed during a surprise live set back in May, will go to the climate activist group Extinction Rebellion.
“Extinction Rebellion gave me the incentive to push the release and not wait,” he explained. “Our relationship to the environment has been a lifelong concern, and I now feel hopeful—optimistic, even. I believe we can bring the kind of change needed to improve our beautiful planet earth, our standing and our place on it.”
Accompanied by a Sam Taylor-Johnson-directed video, listen to ‘Your Capricious Soul’ here.
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Anyone who purchases the song via Stipe’s website will receive a master-quality audio version of ‘Your Capricious Soul’, its video, Stipe’s lyric document, a print-ready poster, stencil and an animated flip-book portrait; the song is also being offered as a free download without the bonus material.
The new music comes after Stipe revealed this summer that he was working on new material, having begun writing again for the first time since R.E.M.’s split in 2011.
“For five years I’d had a clean break from music,” he said at the time. “Now I’m writing, composing and recording all by myself and for the first time.” He added that “18 songs are already ready.”
Last month, R.E.M. shared a previously unreleased demo version of ‘Revolution’.
The demo version of ‘Revolution’ will appear on a special deluxe edition of ‘Monster’ that is being released next month to mark the landmark album’s 25th anniversary.
Meanwhile, R.E.M. responded to the news in the New York Times that hundreds of recordings had been lost during a fire at Universal in 2008.