Rufus Wainwright announces new album with lead single "Damsel In Distress"

"Damsel In Distress" is Wainwright's first single since last year's "Trouble In Paradise", which is the opening track from Unfollow The Rules.

Wainwright says of the new single, ""Damsel In Distress" is an homage to Joni Mitchell in some ways, particularly the structure. My husband and I now live in Laurel Canyon. I wasn’t that familiar with Joni’s music but Jörn became obsessed and took me on a journey into her music. We ended up hanging out with her and I get now why she’s one of the greats. So it’s part Laurel Canyon, part a song about a personal relationship that I’m trying to come to terms with, but mostly my Mitchell virginity being broken."

Unfollow The Rules will be Wainwright's first new album since 2016's Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets, and first pop album since 2012's Out of the Game.

The album was produced by Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Paul McCartney) at a range of LA studios including Sound City Studios, United Recording, and EastWest Studios.

Wainwright says of the new LP, "What I would like this album to symbolize is a coming together of all the aspects of my life which have made me a seasoned artist. My aim is to emulate the greats of yore whose second acts produced their finest work – Leonard Cohen when he made THE FUTURE, when Sinatra became Sinatra in his 40s, when Paul Simon put out GRACELAND. Pop music isn’t always about your waistline. Many songwriters improve with age. I’m flying the flag for staying alive!"

Tracklist:

1. Trouble In Paradise
2. Damsel In Distress
3. Unfollow The Rules
4. You Ain’t Big
5. Romantical Man
6. Peaceful Afternoon
7. Only The People That Love
8. This One’s For The Ladies (That Lunge)
9. My Little You
10. Early Morning Madness
11. Hatred
12. Alone Time