Music
15 Jan 24

The Black Keys announce 12th studio album Ohio Players

Credit: Jim Herrington

The Black Keys start the year off strong, releasing their latest single, entitled ‘Beautiful People (Stay High),’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Multi-Grammy Award-winning rock duo The Black Keys, made up of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, is back with their twelfth studio album Ohio Player, set to hit streaming platforms on 5th April via Nonesuch/Warner Records.

The Ohio natives released the first single from the upcoming album earlier today, written by Auerbach, Carney, and longtime friends Dan “The Automator” Nakamura and Beck. Entitled ‘Beautiful People (Stay High),’ the song is a preview into the collaborative efforts of the album, which will feature artists such as Noel Gallagher, Greg Kurstin and more.

“We had this epiphany,” shared Carney, “‘We can call our friends to help us make music.’ It’s funny because we both write songs with other people – Dan all the time [as a solo artist and producer], me when I'm producing a record. That’s what we do.”

Auerbach chimed in, saying, “No matter who we work with, it never feels like we're sacrificing who we are. It only feels like it adds some special flavor. We just expanded that palette with people we wanted to work with. We were there to support them and their ideas, to do whatever we could to see that moment flourish. But when it came time to finish the album, it was just Pat and me.”

In the process of creating Ohio Players, an album that takes its name from the iconic Dayton, Ohio funk band, Carney and Auerbach could be found traveling the world, DJing dance parties armed with their personal, ever-growing record collections. The parties, referred to as “record hangs,” infused the album with the spirit of nightlife.

“What we wanted to accomplish with this record was make something that was fun,” Carney said. “And something that most bands 20 years into their career don’t make, which is an approachable, fun record that is also cool.”

The Black Keys will make their debut live performance of ‘Beautiful People (Stay High)’ at iHeartRadio’s ALTer Ego concert in Anaheim, California on 13th January. A documentary about the duo’s journey to stardom will also be featured in the 2024 South by Southwest Film and TV Festival in March.

Listen to The Black Keys’ newest single here!