After 44 million sales as part of pop phenomenon Westlife, singer-songwriter Shane Filan commences a new deal with East West Records / Warners with the September 25th release of his new solo album 'RightHere'.
Filan dedicated himself to a huge writing process in which he co-wrote almost fifty songs, the best of which make up two-thirds of 'Right Here'. The remaining tracks were chosen from approximately 200 submissions that he'd shortlisted from other writers. It was a lengthy process, but one which was necessary to ensure that he would fulfil his mission statement: to deliver a collection of ten brilliant contemporary pop songs.
The desire to pursue compelling pop is particular evident in the lead single 'Me and the Moon' (out August 10th) which updates the special blend of strong melodies, dramatic dynamics and soaring vocals that typified many of Filan's finest moments with Westlife.
'It's a great example of where I want my music to be at,' he says. 'It's very current, it's quite pop but there's a bit of an edge to it, and it's a big song vocally. What I love about it is that it has a universal meaning. It's about losing someone you love, but it could be that you've lost a relationship, or someone has passed away, or you could be miles away from your loved ones on the other side of the world. I can really relate to it in that sense.'
Other highlights include the epic duet 'I Could Be' ' complete with an undercurrent of Irish folk and lyrics which offer contrasting outlooks from within a relationship ' and the back-to-basics emotion of the title-track which ascends to new heights with the help of the London Community Gospel Choir.
The album was recorded primarily in London and Denmark, with key collaborators including the Ivor Novello winner Cutfather, Jez Ashurst (Will Young, Gabrielle Aplin), Jon Maguire (Union J's 'Beautiful Life') and Tre Jean-Marie (Andrea Faustini, Melissa Steel).
