Michael Stipe today released his debut solo single, the synthy “Your Capricious Soul,” which comes a full eight years after the breakup of R.E.M. The song can be purchased for download from Stipe’s website, with proceeds benefiting the climate action group Extinction Rebellion.
You can also hear it via the Sam Taylor-Johnson-directed video, posted below.
The track’s 77-cent price will benefit Extiniction Rebellion — there’s also a free-download option — and the release is timed to advance Monday’s International Rebellion climate justice protests. The purchased download package includes the song, the video, a lyric sheet, an animated GIF, a stencil and more.
Stipe says of his decision to finally release new music:
“I took a long break from music, and I wanted to jump back in. I love ‘Your Capricious Soul’ — it’s my first solo work. I want to add my voice to this exciting shift in consciousness. Extinction Rebellion gave me the incentive to push the release and not wait. Our relationship to the environment has been a lifelong concern, and I now feel hopeful — optimistic, even. I believe we can bring the kind of change needed to improve our beautiful planet earth, our standing and our place on it.”
Check out “Your Capricious Soul” below — and purchase the single at michaelstipe.com.
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Michael Stipe to release debut solo single ‘Your Capricious Soul’ this weekend
- R.E.M. releases 2004 rerecording of ‘Reveal’ outtake ‘Fascinating’ to aid Bahamas recovery
- R.E.M.’s 6-disc ‘Monster’ reissue to feature newly remixed album, unheard demos, live set
- R.E.M., Sonic Youth, The Damned, Oingo Boingo, Squeeze may have lost tapes in UMG fire
- R.E.M.’s heavily bootlegged ‘Bingo Hand Job’ show gets vinyl Record Store Day release
- 9-disc ‘R.E.M. at the BBC’ features ’84 live set, full ‘Monster’ tour show, Glastonbury ’99 and more
- The absolute best of R.E.M.: All 282 songs ranked by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ readers
Good to have him back into music finally.