Matt Carmichael announces fourth album, Held in the Dark

Held in the Dark follows Carmichael's 2025 album Dancing with Ember, and opens with "red sky". The track combines his saxophone with acoustic guitar, violin, bass, piano and drums, showing a more singer-songwriter-oriented side to his work versus a jazz composition.

"Red sky defines the tone of the album nicely and is a favourite from the recording session," Carmichael explains. "There is a darkness in the sound that isn't as present in my previous albums, warning of storms to come, but still with hope within that."

Held in the Dark was co-produced by Canadian songwriter and producer Michelle Willis. The songs are mostly built on Carmichael's blend of jazz and Scottish folk, but also take inspiration from artists such as Big Thief, Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake and Bonny Light Horseman. The album features contributions from longtime collaborators Charlie Stewart on fiddle, Fergus McCreadie on piano, Ali Watson on bass and Stephen Henderson on drums, as well as guitarists Chris Amer and James Mackay.

Carmichael wrote the album during a period spent supporting a loved one through ongoing health challenges, with the songs reflecting his own uncertainty, tenderness and resilience. "Writing music has always been my escape and a way to process emotions," he says. "Everyone is going through something in some form, and it can be hard to find people who understand those complexities. I guess a lot of that goes into the music."

Held in the Dark artwork

Held in the Dark tracklist

"red sky"
"morning geese"
"wide eyes"
"flood lines"
"frog green"
"prayer"
"golden moon"
"held in the dark"