Rufus Wainwright is turning the big 5-0 in July.
And the singer-songwriter is marking the occasion with the release of “Folkocracy,” a new 15-song set featuring contributions from Brandi Carlile, John Legend, David Byrne, Sheryl Crow, Nicole Scherzinger, Chaka Khan, Andrew Bird, ANOHNI, Susanna Hoffs, Van Dyke Parks, Madison Cunningham and other artists.
“The guests on the album are all people whose music and voices I have admired for years,” says Wainwright, who is known for such acclaimed efforts as 2001’s “Poses” and 2003’s “Want One.” “Having them on the album is a bit like a birthday present to myself.”
The new album, which leans into Wainwright’s folk roots as the child of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, came out Friday — the same day he launched his tour with a star-studded show featuring Khan, Cunningham, Hoffs and other special guests at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Visit rufuswainwright.com for details on all shows.
Wainwright recently took the time to talk with us about all thing “Folkocracy.”
Happy early bday, Rufus. How did the thought of reaching the half-century mark influence the type of album you wanted to make with “Folkocracy”?