Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald has announced details of her new album, The Human Demands, which is due for release through Infectious / BMG on 30 October. It is preceded by lead single The Hudson, which is available now.

Macdonald has sold more than six million records worldwide, and her song This Is The Life hit number one in ten different countries. Produced by Jim Abbiss (Artic Monkeys, Kasabian), The Human Demands is her fifth album, and her first since 2017’s Under Stars. 

In a press release announcing The Human Demands, Macdonald said: “A lot of the themes on this album are about getting older, which seems ridiculous given I’m only in my early thirties. But I signed my first record contract at eighteen, which feels like a lifetime ago, and on a personal level I’m at the stage in life where parents are getting on, friends have faced depression to the point of not wanting to be here anymore, and everyone has had ups and downs whatever their background. It’s OK to feel a bit crap, and it’s OK to talk about it as well.

“Usually I would be flying around Europe, doing radio sessions and interviews. Now I can’t do that, which makes me feel like we’re back at the beginning because I didn’t do those things then either. I’m back to making music I like and just putting it out in a pure way. It has given me a new love for what I do, all over again”

The Hudson is an upbeat rock track inspired by stories of New York Macdonald’s father used to tell her. It offers a reminiscent feel which will appeal to a wide audience, it's also very radio friendly, sure to be hitting the airwaves soon. One comment on Youtube sums it up perfectly, describing it as a great song to whistle through the streets. “New York was dangerous back then, definitely not a tourist spot, which made me think about their relationship,” she says. “Growing up, Mum and Dad were at each other’s throats, but then so were the parents of everyone I knew. You go through your life with someone you shout and swear at the whole time, but if you ever parted you’d reminisce about them constantly.”

Listen to the official audio for The Hudson here, or watch below.

Pre-order The Human Demands through Amy Macdonald’s official website.

Usually I would be flying around Europe, doing radio sessions and interviews. Now I can’t do that, which makes me feel like we’re back at the beginning because I didn’t do those things then either. I’m back to making music I like and just putting it out in a pure way. It has given me a new love for what I do, all over again”

The Human Demands tracklist:

1. Fire

2. Statues

3. Crazy Shade Of Blue

4. The Hudson

5. The Human Demands

6. We Could Be So Much More

7. Young Fire, Old Flame

8. Bridges

9. Strong Again

10. Something In Nothing Deluxe CD additional tracks:

11. Bridges (Acoustic)

12. The Hudson (Acoustic)

13. Fire (Acoustic)

14. Statues (Acoustic)

15. We Could Be So Much More (Acoustic)

16. The Human Demands (Acoustic)

 singer-songwriter        folk-rock 

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.