Hear Duran Duran’s Funky ‘Pressure Off’ With Nile Rodgers
Chic mastermind also hints at a Beck collaboration in the near-future
[youtube width=”640″ height=”358″]https://youtu.be/l2SZQANHOZc[/youtube]
Duran Duran have shared the funky new track “Pressure Off,” the first single off their upcoming 14th studio album Paper Gods. The song was co-produced and co-written by Mark Ronson and Nile Rodgers, and the latter’s trademark riffing and Chic-y flourishes ”“ as well as stunning background vocals supplied by Janelle Monáe ”“ brighten up the dance floor-bound cut (via Idolator). Paper Gods, the new wave icons’ first LP since 2010’s produced All You Need Is Now, arrives stateside September 18th.
“Everybody everywhere/Step out into the future/It’s time to take the pressure off,” Simon LeBon and Monáe sing during the song’s bouncy outro. Rodgers actually has a successful history with the British hitmakers: The Chic frontman first worked with the band when he was recruited to remix the band’s 1984 single “The Reflex” as well as co-produce their single “The Wild Boys,” the lone studio song on their Rodgers-produced 1984 live LP Arena. Rodgers also produced the band’s 1986 album Notorious, contributing guitar to the chart-topping title track.
“I couldn’t be happier to be working with [Duran Duran] again. They’re like my second Chic,” Rodgers told Billboard of being back in the studio with the “Notorious” crew. Duran Duran’s John Taylor also promised lots of “different collaborators” on Paper Gods, and in addition to Monáe, Rodgers and Ronson, the album will reportedly also feature former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante and Mr. Hudson. The album is available for preorder now over on Duran Duran’s official site.
Duran Duran will hit the road this summer for a month-long U.S. trek that includes stops at Las Vegas’ Life Is Beautiful fest, Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Hollywood Bowl as well as Rodgers’ inaugural FOLD Festival in Riverhead, New York on August 5th. The lineup for that fest also includes Beck, and Rodgers has already hinted that the Morning Phase singer ”“ who just dropped his own dance-pop single “Dreams” ”“ might join Daft Punk, Pharrell, Disclosure and Duran Duran on his list of recent collaborators.
Talking to Yahoo! Music, Rodgers revealed that he and Beck, along with British singer Paloma Faith, will hit a Long Island, New York recording studio prior to the FOLD Festival. Rodgers and Beck first met at Elton John’s annual Oscar party ”“ Chic played the event ”“ and quickly began plotting their collaboration. Rodgers also teased that he might make an appearance onstage during Beck’s set, or vice versa, at the August 5th festival.
