On Monday April 20th, Shaboozey took to socials to announce the release of his upcoming fourth studio album titled The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, an expansive concept record that is set for a summer release on July 31st. With an accompanying move length trailer for the album, narrated by Jamie Foxx, Shaboozey has immediately made it clear that this will be more than just an album: it’ll be a cinematic project beyond tradition. Built as a narrative-driven epic of the Wild West, the artist will be continuing to push the boundaries of country music.

The Grammy-award winning singer/songwriter penned an explanation for the album: “I wanted to show you who I am an artist and a storyteller… The Outlaw Cherie Lee is an idea that’s been with me for as long as I can remember.” The album will be set around one female character, Cherie Lee, navigating her own story as she leaves behind everything she once knew in order to find herself.

Just in case that groundbreaking news wasn’t enough though, Shaboozey also announced that the first chapter of the story would be out in the world on Friday April 24th. ‘Born To Die’ might be part of a Wild West tale, but it’s nothing short of a party anthem, in his own words: “raise a glass to always living life, like we ain’t born to die.”

Shaboozey has already crossed boundaries, combined genres, broken down walls and become a phenomenon along the way, and with this latest concept record, it doesn’t seem like he has plans to stop any time soon. With 20 tracks making up the collection and another slate of high-profile collaborations, this might just be the most anticipated album of the year.

Although Shaboozey might be inspired by the age-old Wild West narrative, he’s not following any standard format when it comes to sound. ‘Born to Die’ kicks off with an acoustic guitar embedded in an atmospheric soundscape. A heavy bass pushes into the pre-chorus before the explosive chorus hits in a full-on wave of a party anthem.

Like a summer club hit should be, offbeat claps play against an electro melody that seems to pay tribute to the use of fiddle in traditional country. Shaboozey is continuing to blend genres by utlising elements from country, hip-hop, Americana and pop to make something truly unique.

With an a cappella chorus towards the end, the track is pulled together into a celebration, nothing less than an instant hit that is bound to be soundtrack of many a summer this year.

Shaboozey has carved out a classic drinking song with all the typical ‘one life only’ notions that come alongside just having a good time. But keeping that Wild West narrative twist in there, he sings of the sun coming up and painting the sky red, and that whiskey coming from the barrels that characterise that imagined West.

Saying that he’s got “all the ones that got [him] there” with him, it really does feel like a celebration of living life to the fullest and being appreciative of the ones that lifted you up along the way. Keep the good times going like they’re never going to end, “like we ain’t born to die”.

“I know that I won't live forever
I fought with death a thousand times and I came out on top
What's one more night? Let's risk it hard and chase the feeling
Of dancing on the ceiling till the music stops
-
So pour something strong or don't pour at all
'Cause a night like this could be the last one
-
So I'll drink until my liver and my head put up a fight
I'll stay up till the sun is red and every barrel's dry
All the ones that got me here are gathered here tonight
Raise a glass to always living life
Like we ain't born to die
Like we ain't born to die
-
Long days led to longer nights
Make plenty mistakes, couple wrong turns, guess that's just life
-
So pour something strong or don't pour at all
'Cause a night like this could be the last one
-
So I'll drink until my liver and my head put up a fight
I'll stay up till the sun is red and every barrel's dry
All the ones that got me here are gathered here tonight
Raise a glass to always living life
Like we ain't born to die
Like we ain't born to die
-
So pour something strong or don't pour at all
'Cause a night like this could be the last one
-
So I'll drink until my liver and my head put up a fight
I'll stay up till the sun is red and every barrel's dry
All the ones that got me here are gathered here tonight
Raise a glass to always living life
Like we ain't born to die
-
Drink until my liver and my head put up a fight
I'll stay up till the sun is red and every barrel's dry
All the ones that got me here are gathered here tonight
Raise a glass to always living life
Like we ain't born to die
Like we ain't born to die”

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Shaboozey

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