Former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe will follow up the October release of his debut solo single “Your Capricious Soul” with a second single, “Drive to the Ocean,” to be released on his 60th birthday on Jan. 4. Like its predecessor, this single also benefit a climate action group.
The new song — which Stipe has been playing live, along with its predecessor — will be released via Stipe’s own webiste, michaelstipe.com. The track will be priced at 77 cents, but those who prefer to give more can pick their own price. The download will include “exclusive wallpapers, the (Stipe-directed) video, a lyric video, a high resolution audio version of the song as well as Stipe’s original lyric document.”
According to Stipe’s website, the singer will be “redirecting all of his earnings from sales and synchronization licensing for the first 365 days” to Pathway to Paris, a nonprofit dedicated to turning the Paris climate agreement into reality through innovative public engagement, cultural events and more.
Of the single, Stipe says:
“I am so happy to collaborate with Pathway to Paris for this year 2020. The work that they are doing is vital and foundational — it is essential for a future that we can and will claim as our own.”
Stipe released two short teaser clips featuring some of the new music:
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
