Legendary YES keyboardist and composer Rick Wakeman CBE has today shared ‘Melancholia’, the first single and title track from his forthcoming new album Melancholia.
The single arrives alongside a beautiful new video which is out now – watch it below.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the track, Wakeman said: “The album, and indeed the music, was heavily inspired by my wife Rachel, who heard me playing a piece on the piano (which eventually became the track ‘Garo’) and asked me about it. I explained that when I was feeling depressed or sad, I would always sit at the piano and play, as I found it healing – such is the power of music. She immediately said it was something I should share musically, as all the pieces could have a personal meaning to anyone listening… and so ‘Melancholia’ was born.”
Set for release on 17th October via Madfish, Melancholia stands as the crowning jewel in a remarkable piano trilogy that began with 2017’s Piano Portraits and continued in 2018 with Piano Odyssey – both landmark albums that saw Rick Wakeman reach new heights of popularity and critical acclaim as a solo artist.