We are so back.
It’s been over two years since we’ve gotten new music from Colter Wall. Since Little Song’s release in 2023, the Canadian singer/songwriter has been radio silent in terms of new music. Though this shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, given that Wall is famous for living off the grid, ranching and generally keeping to himself in between shows and album releases, it hasn’t stopped fans (myself included) from wondering just when we’d get some new tunes from the “Caroline” singer.
If you recall, 2025 seemingly got off to a rocky start for Wall as he cancelled his February and March shows to October due to “personal reasons” regarding his mental and physical health. With that being said, however, the Canadian singer/songwriter is clearly doing better and is back in album mode.
Back in August, Wall sent the internet into a frenzy after taking to Instagram to share a photo of a Private Q multichannel headphone system at RCA Studio A in Nashville, backed by some twangy, Western-inspired instrumentals in the background, signaling that music was finally on its way.
He’d follow that up days later with a teaser of a brand-new song, “1800 Miles,” which served as a biting critique of the current state of Nashville, pointing out that Nashville is filled with nothing more than flashing lights and rhinestone clothes, with the music being completely devoid of any fiddle and steel:
“I don’t know what you think you’ve been toldIf I ever was for sale, I never soldIt’s short on flashing lights and rhinestone clothes1,800 miles from Music RowIt’s Tyson songs on the fiddle and guitarAnd the pedal steel man drives a real mean barYou won’t hear it on your radioIt’s 1,800 miles from Music Row”
Just about a month after posting the teaser (along with a hilarious hand-made “billboard” promoting the song), this morning, Wall officially announced that a brand new album, Memories and Empties, will be released on November 14.
Memories and Empties, Wall’s sixth studio album, will contain 11 new songs, including “1800 Miles” and a cover of Ian Tyson’s 1985 track, “Summer Wages.”
In typical Colter Wall fashion, he didn’t provide much information about the album in the Instagram post. With that being said, however, he revealed to Dale Brisby in a rare media appearance on the Rodeo Time podcast that he wanted to make a “love letter” to country music that sounded like an old Merle Haggard record.
“It’s just a love letter to country music. Really, it’s just a bunch of sad drinking songs mostly. I just wanted to make a record that sounded like Merle Haggard and the Strangers—late 60s into the early 70s. Honestly, to me, that’s where country music peaked. That’s my favorite stuff to listen to, and I think that was the best band in country music. I wanted to make a record that reminded me of that. So that’s what we did… or tried to (do) anyways.”
Overall, it should go without saying that any time Colter Wall announces an album, it should automatically be met with an incredible amount of hype. His track record simply speaks for itself over the past decade. Given everything we know about the record so far, I’d expect another killer throwback to the golden years of the genre, complete with his patented Western flair throughout. Judging by just how good the “1800 Miles” teaser was, I think we’re in for another treat from the Canadian outlaw.
Fans won’t have to wait long to get a taste of the record, as “1800 Miles” drops TONIGHT at midnight.
Memories and Empties Tracklist
- “1800 Miles”
- “My Present Just Gets Past Me”
- “Like the Hills”
- “Memories and Empties”
- “It’s Getting So (That a Man Can’t Go Into Town Just to Have Him a Drink)”
- “Living By the Hour”
- “4/4 Time”
- “The Longer You Hold On”
- “Back to Me”
- “Summer Wages”
- “Like the Hills (Alt. Take)”
“1800 Miles”
