Daughtry has signed with Big Machine Records, announcing the news on Monday. On the heels of their new signing, Daughtry will release their new single, “Artificial,” on Friday, August 11.
“Chris Daughtry is one of the best voices in rock music, hands down,” said Big Machine Label Group Chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta. “He is attacking this season of life full-on with a renewed fire and intensity to everything he touches.”
Daughtry Is “Thrilled” To Work With Big Machine
“I am so thrilled to be working with Scott and the entire Big Machine crew on this next record and beyond,” shared Daughtry frontman Chris Daughtry. “It’s very refreshing and exciting to have a team behind me that fully believes and supports my vision.”
Daughtry released its self-titled debut album in 2006, and it became the fastest selling rock debut album in Soundscan history and received four Grammy nominations, four American Music Award and seven Billboard Music Awards. Subsequent albums Leave This Town (2009), Break The Spell (2011) and Baptized (2013) were certified Platinum, while 2018’s Cage To Rattle went Gold. The band’s most recent album, 2021’s Dearly Beloved, marked a return to their rock roots.
Cover Of Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”
In January, Daughtry released a successful cover of Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” with Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, which Chris Daughtry was inspired to cover after hearing a remix of the song played during an episode of Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things.
“The way they used it in the show reminded me of how incredible that song is,” Daughtry explained to Billboard. “And it has this darkness to it that really lends itself to being a heavier, more aggressive rock song.”
Their version of the song, released on the anniversary marking four decades since the original’s release, went to No. 6 on Mediabase’s Active Rock chart and has earned millions of streams.
“We never could have imagined it would take off the way it has,” Daughtry said. “Any time you touch a classic such as [this one by] Journey, there’s always a chance you’re going to get raked over the coals. I’m very grateful that hasn’t happened.”
“I was really excited to finally do it, because I’ve been singing that song in one way or another since I was 12,” Hale shared. “My mother is a huge Steve Perry fan. She had a huge crush on him when I was growing up, so there was always a Journey album playing in the house.”
Preparing To Embark On 26-Date Bare Bones Tour
Additionally, Daughtry shared that the cover of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” will be included on his band’s new album and offers a taste of what fans can expect from the project.
“I feel like this cover was a catalyst for the next phase of this band,” he said “It gives me an idea of where we want to go sonically with this next record, and I’m really excited about that.”
On Wednesday (Aug. 9), Daughtry will kick off its Bare Bones Tour, a 26-date U.S. run of acoustic shows with support from Ayron Jones.
Last week, Daughtry joined Nickelback at the Canadian band’s concert in Nashville to perform “Savin’ Me,” which Chris Daughtry performed with the group during a stint opening for them on tour.
