American Idol finalist Paul McDonald is currently in the studio writing and recording his debut album, tied to a Kickstarter campaign. In the meantime McDonald is sharing a brand new song, premiering exclusively via Billboard.
The syrupy, dramatic pop song “Bright Lights” is a sampling of what McDonald has in store once he reaches his Kickstarter goal.
“Bright Lights isn’t a love song,” McDonald explains, “but a song about love and the idea that when you share a deep connection with somebody, no matter where life takes each of you, you hope in some way that you’ll always be there for each other. Throughout the process of writing and creating the music for this album, I’ve been able to experiment with new sounds, expand my musical boundaries, and really dive into a new way of thinking on the songwriting and production end. Lyrically, these songs capture the past year of my life: transition, loss, heartache, growth, happiness, new love, and rebirth. I’m really looking forward to getting out and playing these new songs live.”
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When McDonald speaks about the past year of his life, he’s referencing some trying times. Earlier in 2014, he split with his wife, actress Nikki Reed, and relocated from Los Angeles to Nashville. But considering the quality of the new song, it certainly seems like he found himself in a productive creative space.
“This record is by far the most raw and emotional catalog of songs I’ve ever written,” he says on his Kickstarter page. “I’ve compiled the largest collection of songs I’ve ever had, all worthy contenders for an album — and every single one of them mirrors the mental, physical and spiritual roads that I’ve been traveling down.”