Returning to Myself

Released in late 2025, Returning to Myself represents a significant sonic evolution for Brandi Carlile, moving away from the 'classic rock' grandeur of In These Silent Days toward a more experimental, 'Wrecking Ball'-inspired folk aesthetic. Recorded primarily at Long Pond Studio with a high-profile production team including Andrew Watt, Aaron Dessner, and Justin Vernon, the album is characterized by its restraint. Critics noted that Carlile intentionally avoids her signature 'power belt' for much of the record, opting instead for a breathy, close-mic'd delivery that emphasizes the philosophical weight of the lyrics. The album is notable for its inclusion of 'Church & State', a track written in real-time during the 2024 U.S. election, which serves as a rare explicitly political moment in her solo catalog. Commercially, it solidified her status as a mainstay of the Billboard 200, while critically it was hailed as her most 'honest' and 'insightful' work, marking a successful transition into a more avant-folk territory.