Brantley Gilbert‘s latest album, So Help Me God, is out. The ten-track record includes “Heaven By Then,” his collaboration with Blake Shelton, which also features Vince Gill.
“‘Heaven By Then’ came out of a conversation during a writers retreat in Texas that we do every year,” Gilbert says. “A guitar ended up in HARDY’s lap, which is usually a good sign that it’s about to turn into something special. I think we all knew that as it was being written. It came to life that night.
“To have Blake Shelton and Vince Gill on the song meant so much to me. Those two brought so much to the table and gave it a voice I didn’t have. We were all in separate places when we recorded, but it was a cool way for everyone to put their spin on it. They just did what felt natural and sonically you hear that,” he concludes.
Toby Keith, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Jason Aldean and Jelly Roll also join Gilbert on So Help Me God, his sixth studio record, with an underlying theme running through all of them.
“All of my albums up to this point have been spiritual or faith-based titles, and there’s a reason for that,” Gilbert shares. “I feel like if I’m the ‘what you see is what you get’ guy, and I decide to disregard my faith or not include it, not only am I selling myself short, but I’m selling everybody who plays that record short. Faith is a huge part of my life, and I feel like God tends to bless us a little bit more when we share a little spotlight.”
It’s been three years since Gilbert’s latest Fire & Brimstone record, but the 37-year-old says there is always a good reason for his gaps between projects.
“I’ve always taken a little longer than most artists, especially in this genre, to put an album out and that’s partly to do with me being a perfectionist,” Gilbert concedes. “But we’ve been looking forward to getting this album out for a long time. I’ve been blessed to sit down with some of the best writers in the country, and I feel like we’ve written some wonderful stuff.”
Gilbert will spend much of the remainder of the year co-headlining a tour with Five Finger Death Punch. Find music and tour dates at BrantleyGilbert.com.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Valory Music Co.