Morgan Wallen surprises fans with a re-recorded version of an old fan favorite, announcing a song called “Spin You Around (1/24 Version)” to be released Thursday night (January 25). While it's a welcome treat for fans, Wallen also tries to prevent what he calls “the dark side of the music business.”
Via Instagram, Wallen explained: “I'm writing from a duck hunting trip because I want to update you on something that's happening tonight. Back in 2014, I moved to Florida to try my hand at creating original music and songwriting for the first time. This led to a record deal with a local investor and an artist management deal that I deeply regret. Unfortunately, I signed both agreements without any legal representation.”
Wallen noted that they made 13 songs, saying, “Some were okay, most were terrible, as I was just learning how to write in general and figure it all out. I wasn't the only contributor, so a lot of these songs weren't my idea or up to my standards. We considered 5 worthy-enough to make it Stand Alone EP featuring a fan favorite, “Spin You Around.”
The fifth song Stand alone The EP was released in 2015 via Panacea Records.
Wallen continued: “Tonight, those colleagues I broke up with almost 10 years ago are planning to release a '10th anniversary' edition Stand alone against my wishes and included eight unreleased songs, distributing them with the help of my former managers. For months I have been exploring every possible avenue to acquire the rights to this old music and to keep the quality of my catalog consistent with the songs I choose to release and believe in.”
Wallen also called it “an example of how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists.”
Wallen emphasized: “I want you to know that this is NOT my new music and I don't want to see this happen to anyone else. I get chills when I listen to these songs and I'm very worried that my fans might mistakenly think that this is a new release from me.”
To offset the 10th anniversary release of that project, Wallen recorded his own version of “Spin You Around” this week in Nashville, working with producer Joey Moi and instrumentalist Bryan Sutton. Moi has worked on all three of Wallen's Big Loud label albums, including 2018 If I Know Meof 2021 Dangerous: The Double album and 2023 One thing at a time, while Sutton has contributed his music to many of Wallen's songs. Wallen signed with Big Loud in 2016.
Wallen also designed the artwork for singing in the woods while duck hunting.
Courtesy
In addition, Wallen noted that he is donating $100,000 from the Morgan Wallen Foundation to the Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) program.
“I hope young aspiring musicians read this story and know that they should never give up their creative freedoms for a chance in this business,” he said, adding, “Trust me, when the new music is ready, I will hear directly from me.”
Wallen also told fans that he begins recording his next album in late February. “I feel creatively inspired and very excited to make more music that I'm proud of,” he said.
Read his full message below:
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/country/morgan-wallen-spin-you-around-re-recording-early-ep-reissue-1235590050/
