D’Angelo’s Manager Confirms New Album To Drop This Year

D'Angelo's long-awaited follow-up to the classic 2000 album Voodoo might finally see the light of day after multiple false starts, according to his manager, veteran music executive Kevin Liles.

Despite the topic of a new album being taboo as recently as last month, Liles assured fans in an interview with Billboard that the album will be coming out soon.

Here's what he told them:

"We're trying to finish the album. Right now we have 13 songs done, trying to think about the sequence of the album, mastering and mixing within the next two weeks, and release the thing. Ain't no question it's coming...

Here's the thing: with D'Angelo, it was a process. He didn't perform for 10 years and he's been working on an album for the past 12 years. I actually got him to go out and do 30 shows [in 2011-2012], and then we did some 'Brothers in Arms' shows [with ?uestlove]. I said, 'We have to get motivated around what people want to hear from you, and what does it mean to come back to that space?' He very bluntly put it, 'Kev, the studio and the stage: that's my lifeblood. Now that I've touched it again, now that I see it again, I wanna be sure that the baby I'm about to have - the album - that I take it to the point where it's all it can be.' ...

There'll be an album this year: there's 14 records so far, we might have a couple of bonus records, but all the recording is basically done and we're mixing and mastering now. Definitely, he'll be back.

We'll probably start an international tour in October, we'll come back [to the States]. We're doing a James Brown tribute in August [at the Hollywood Bowl] and some one-off things. But the touring will probably start in October and 2015."

Liles also told them that they have a working title (he wouldn't disclose the name) and that the album would be coming out this year "sooner rather than later." He said that the sound has a "rock influence" as well as elements of Prince and James Brown.

Now, take all these promises with a grain of salt, but it's probably safe to get a little excited.

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