We'd known for some time now that Stevie Wonder has a new orchestral LP called When the World Began in the works with composer David Foster, but a new interview with the soul icon has him revealing a more traditional set called Through the Eyes of Wonder is on the way as well.
Speaking with Billboard ahead of his just-started "Songs in the Key of Life Performance" tour, Wonder confirmed that he's working on a pair of LPs, but neither has been fit with an ETA.
As previously reported, When the World Began has the solo artist backed by a symphony orchestra. A redo of Songs in the Key of Life's "Isn't She Lovely" is expected, with Wonder now explaining that the new version "goes to a whole other place" and includes vocal contributions from classical tenor Andrea Bocelli. So far, Wonder and Foster have worked on eight songs for the set, but a release date has yet to be determined. Wonder noted that "it's got to feel right" before the project is unveiled in full.
Additionally, the R&B vet said he is "maybe 75 percent" finished a more conventional studio album called Through the Eyes of Wonder, which will be his first set of new material since 2005's A Time to Love. While few details have been released behind the music, Wonder reports that the album reflects his current mindset.
"There's so much that has gone on between, say, Songs in the Key of Life and now — in my life, in lives, just in the world," he explained, adding, "There have been some incredibly great things that happened and there have been some incredibly horrible things that have happened. There are some things that'll make you feel pessimistic that have happened, and there are some things that will make you feel optimistic as well at the end of the day. In that I've been able to witness all that, [the album] is kind of from the perspective as I see it. That's where I write from."
The "Songs in the Key of Life Performance" tour started last night (November 6) in New York, with Wonder set to hit Toronto's Air Canada Centre on November 25. You'll find the remainder of the show schedule down below.
Tour dates:
11/09 Washington, DC - Verizon Center
11/11 Boston, MA - TD Garden
11/14 Chicago, IL - United Center
11/16 Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
11/20 Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
11/22 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
11/25 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
11/29 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
12/03 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
12/05 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
Speaking with Billboard ahead of his just-started "Songs in the Key of Life Performance" tour, Wonder confirmed that he's working on a pair of LPs, but neither has been fit with an ETA.
As previously reported, When the World Began has the solo artist backed by a symphony orchestra. A redo of Songs in the Key of Life's "Isn't She Lovely" is expected, with Wonder now explaining that the new version "goes to a whole other place" and includes vocal contributions from classical tenor Andrea Bocelli. So far, Wonder and Foster have worked on eight songs for the set, but a release date has yet to be determined. Wonder noted that "it's got to feel right" before the project is unveiled in full.
Additionally, the R&B vet said he is "maybe 75 percent" finished a more conventional studio album called Through the Eyes of Wonder, which will be his first set of new material since 2005's A Time to Love. While few details have been released behind the music, Wonder reports that the album reflects his current mindset.
"There's so much that has gone on between, say, Songs in the Key of Life and now — in my life, in lives, just in the world," he explained, adding, "There have been some incredibly great things that happened and there have been some incredibly horrible things that have happened. There are some things that'll make you feel pessimistic that have happened, and there are some things that will make you feel optimistic as well at the end of the day. In that I've been able to witness all that, [the album] is kind of from the perspective as I see it. That's where I write from."
The "Songs in the Key of Life Performance" tour started last night (November 6) in New York, with Wonder set to hit Toronto's Air Canada Centre on November 25. You'll find the remainder of the show schedule down below.
Tour dates:
11/09 Washington, DC - Verizon Center
11/11 Boston, MA - TD Garden
11/14 Chicago, IL - United Center
11/16 Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
11/20 Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
11/22 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
11/25 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
11/29 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
12/03 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
12/05 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena