After patiently waiting over a year for new music, Robert Pattinson is finally back with a new album. The musician released his long-awaited LP, Lost Songs, on August 24th in the UK and a day later in the United States.
While we await his next album, which is expected to arrive in 2021, here’s a detailed lesson on how to listen to Lost Songs and what it means.
The Waiting Game
For fans of the Twilight Saga, the wait for new music from Pattinson was excruciating. The 35-year-old singer penned the song “Homesick” while on a break from filming the last installment in the franchise, Eclipse. The ballad was chosen to accompany the film’s end-credits and was later released as a single in November 2019. Since then, it’s been all downhill for fans of the Scottish-born actor.
In September 2019, he teased the arrival of his new album with the release of “Homesick” and “Rough Night,” the sequel to “Rough Night,” the song that served as the film’s theme music. A few months later, he dropped another new song, “Never Walk Away,” which was accompanied by a black-and-white music video that showed off his stunning vocals.
The Album
When Pattinson finally did return with the much-anticipated new album, lost songs, he didn’t disappoint. As the title suggests, it’s a collection of songs that Pattinson either didn’t have time to fit into his 2018 album, Twilight, or songs that didn’t make the cut for some reason. For those who have been waiting for his return, they will be overjoyed to learn that the wait was worth it. The album is a gorgeous example of what happens when an artist takes time off to refresh and reevaluate their musical direction. As he states in the album’s epic opening track, “When You’re Free (Demo),” “Sometimes you need a change of scene/Sometimes you need a change of mind.”
The Twilight Saga: Eclosue is the first of the four part series of films based on Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling young adult series, Twilight. The fourth film in the franchise, Last Gleaming, will be released on December 25th. The last two films in the franchise, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, Part 2, were released in 2012 and 2011, respectively. The final film, Breaking Dawn, Part 2, was the most expensive film to ever make at the time, with a production budget of over $70 million.
Pattinson’s previous album, Twilight, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim and became his third consecutive album to top the UK Albums Chart, selling 104,000 copies in its first week. It also peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 and received a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The Cover Art
To accompany the release of his new album, Pattinson dropped the limited edition, signed and numbered cover of the newly-completed LP. The beautiful piece of art is another masterstroke for an artist who continues to astound us with his gorgeous album covers.
The cover art sees Pattinson, looking every bit the romantic lead, posing tenderly with his significant other, FKA Twigs. The star-studded cover art was inspired by the 1923 German expressionist painting, Dancing Class by Karl Schmidt. We might never get tired of looking at this amazing artwork—it will likely appear on the covers of future LPs from Pattinson.
The Songs
Thematically, the songs on Lost Songs revolve around the state of love and its many forms. In addition to the gorgeous cover of the album, you’ll find fair isle florals, heart shapes and even a wedding ring on every track. The majority of the songs are love songs, penned by Pattinson and co-produced with frequent collaborator, Eric Schermerhorn. The exception is the haunting title track, which was written by the film’s cinematographer, Jarrod Hadleigh, and is accompanied by a gorgeous piano-led ballad. Hadleigh also contributed the beautifully sad track, “Remember Me,” which stands as one of the album’s highlights.
What’s Next?
With each new album, we can expect to see a new direction for the enigmatic Pattinson. It will be exciting to see what he comes up with next. For now, fans of the Twilight Saga can rest assured that their favorite Scottish-born singer will continue to thrill them with his unique take on romantic and emotional music.