Country music artist Keith Urban has a new album being released, titled Fuse. Picture: AP Source: AP
ONE of the childhood memories Sunday and Faith Kidman Urban may tease their father about in years to come will be that contraption he used to test out his new songs on them.
It was called a cassette player back in the day.
Just like the other seven studio albums the country superstar has released, the songs for his latest record, Fuse, began as demos on a cassette tape.
Urban, who deeply respects the musical intuition of wife Nicole, often puts that machine on their kitchen bench and plays his works in progress.
But he isn't quite ready to use his five and two-year-old daughters as unbiased arbiters of his future hits, whether it's current No. 1 on the US Country Airplay chart Little Bit Of Everything or the potential smash Somewhere In My Car.
"It might be a good song for the Wiggles (if they love it). I'll be doing Somewhere In My Big Red Car on the next record. It's nice when (Sunday) likes the song, but it's probably not an accurate barometer," he says backstage a few hours before performing at the famed Red Rocks amphitheatre in Colorado.
Keith Urban performs in the US. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
"There are certain ones, if they've got the groove factor, that they like and that's a good sign."
Even after consistently hitting the top spot since But For The Grace Of God delivered his first of 15 No. 1 country chart singles in the US back in 2001, Urban remains grateful each time his fans or supporters at American radio reward him with a chart topper.
His previous two records, Defying Gravity and Get Closer, delivered more of those milestones and Urban's star turn as a coach on the inaugural season of The Voice here in 2012 helped finally deliver a coveted No. 1 on the Australian album charts.
"I think it may mean even more now because you only get so many of them," he says.
"I've been very fortunate on the last record, and now this one, to get some more.
"Certainly Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing didn't have one; I think there were a couple of twos. Being in rehab didn't help. People were a little worried I think."
Urban released Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing in November 2006, days after he entered rehab and just a few months after his wedding to Kidman in Sydney.
His personal crisis was followed by another chart resurgence, but he felt he hit a career crossroads 18 months ago. Urban was recovering from throat surgery, had signed on to do The Voice at Kidman's encouragement and while a greatest hits collection was buying him time to consider his next studio record, the country hero didn't know what he wanted to do.
As those who have witnessed him on The Voice and now American Idol are aware, Urban is a voracious music fan who listens to everything.
Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. for FOX's "American Idol XIII." Picture: AP Source: AP
And for his eighth studio record, Fuse, he wanted a chance to experiment, to push his sound into new territory.
Listen to some of the tracks from Fuse below:
He had his light bulb moment after recalling a documentary he had seen about the fraught making of U2's Achtung Baby, their fusion of rock'n'roll with the next wave of recording technology.
"I have to think that the voice surgery I had at the end of 2011 was the turning point," he says. "Yeah, I had that 'band at the crossroads' moment because I have made a lot of records and made a particular sound and I am interested in where my sound can go next while still being me.
"Some people will say it's a contemporary country record, others will say there is nothing country about this record. It just depends who you talk to."
Like his current US concerts, which probably won't make it to Australia now until late 2014, most of the songs on Fuse started with a drum machine and a banjo.
But they were finished with an array of international hitmakers you rarely see on the credits of a country record.
Keith Urban's album cover for Fuse. Picture: AP Source: AP
Urban sought out or was matched with an eclectic collection of collaborators for Fuse including Butch Walker (Pink, Fall Out Boy), Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Avenged Sevenfold), Jay Joyce (The Wallflowers) and Stargate (Beyonce, Rihanna).
"What happened was I got halfway through the record and I hit this point where I couldn't jack it up to the next place I wanted to in my head. I needed people," he says.
"I wanted to collaborate because I wanted to know if I work with Jay Joyce if that will affect the way I play guitar.
"Someone else's presence and the way they play changes the way you play. If I sit in with John Mayer, I am liable to play stuff with him that I wouldn't play with Brad Paisley. It's reactionary to the moment."
The banjo and drum machine aesthetic isn't alien to Urban because that's how he learned to play solo in his early pubs days in Australia, setting up in the corner with his instrument and a beat box to play covers at the Normanby Hotel in Brisbane, sometimes to only two people.
Between his Sunday evening sets, he would head to the nearest KFC for some dinner and then sit in his car, listening to music.
Keith Urban performs during the NFL Kickoff in 2013. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
Which explains another of his musical obsessions beside the guitar and the radio - cars.
Fuse has three songs dedicated to this particular passion - the aforementioned Somewhere In My Car, the Bonnie and Clyde narrative Cop Car and the reverential Red Camaro.
"I have always loved the car. I think it's a strong metaphor for so many things. And rock 'n' roll has a lot of the car, too," he says.
"It's youth, it's usually that first piece of independence and freedom that you get. And then it becomes the place where so many things in your life happen."
Like romance. Many of the car songs also reference girls.
He becomes a little coy when asked if he and the missus enjoy the occasional romantic drive.
"Nice segue," he says, chuckling. "Gosh, a specific romantic drive? I don't know, we go on dates all the time, have date night once a week so that's always a romantic drive."
Actor Nicole Kidman, left, and musician Keith Urban arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel this year. Picture: AP Source: News Limited
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