David Cook Premieres New Song ‘Gimme Heartbreak,’ Gives Fans What They Want
“My fans have been extremely patient, and if I could do anything to reward that, I’d like to,” American Idol Season 7 winner David Cook tells Yahoo Music’s Reality Rocks, referring to his past lengthy recording hiatuses between releases. “They waited four years for [the 2015 album] Digital Vein, and I promised them at that CD release party that I wasn’t going to make them wait four years again. I’m inclined to keep that promise.”
True to his word, Cook just started working with his longtime engineer/collaborator Andy Skib on a new EP, due this fall on Cook’s label Analog Heart Music via INgrooves. And fans don’t even have to wait till fall to hear the EP’s first single, “Gimme Heartbreak,” as Yahoo Music is thrilled to premiere the gritty, garage-y track today.
“Musically, it’s been extremely different,” Cook says of the song’s darker, rawer direction — which brings to mind the stripped sound of Royal Blood and the Black Keys, although Cook specifically cites Nine Inch Nails’ recent output, Mutemath, Massive Attack, and Norwegian indie-pop songstress Aurora as major influences on the forthcoming EP’s “dark and edgy and moody” sound.
“Especially in the last couple of years, like anybody who listens to music, I don’t just like one thing — so I’ve really tried to dive in headfirst to the more dark, cinematic stuff,” Cook says. “I feel like there’s… I don’t want to say ‘heavy-handed,’ but there’s a medium-handed influence on the new stuff, with that kind of vibe.”
Cook reveals he actually has two EPs in the works — a release schedule, unencumbered by the restraints of a major label, that will keep his music coming at a more regular pace and thus keep his diehard fans happy. He says back when he was signed to RCA, he was “the king of overthinking,” always wondering, “Well, we could go back in and change that…” However, with “Gimme Heartbreak,” which was recorded only a month and a half ago, “The energy that’s on that track, it’s locked in. I don’t have the chance to go back in and ‘perfect’ it, which is good, because I think that’s when you kind of lose that energy.”
Cook adds enthusiastically, “I hope people give the new music a listen. For me, it’s always a challenge to top the last record, but I think we’re headed in that direction. I definitely feel this EP and this single are something special.”
“Gimme Heartbreak” will be available on iTunes and Spotify Friday, June 23, the same day that Cook’s new Pledge Music campaign kicks off. And this summer, Cook — a tireless road warrior whose breaks from touring have been much, much briefer than his recording gaps — will debut more new music onstage at the following gigs:
June 29 – Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati
June 30 – Lincoln Hall, Chicago
July 1 – Pfiffner Pioneer Park (festival) Mainstage – Riverfront Rendezvous, Stevens Point, WI
July 3 – Hi Fi Music Hall, Indianapolis
July 5 – Jergel’s, Pittsburgh
July 6 – World Cafe Live, Philadelphia
July 9 – Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT
July 10 – Knitting Factory, Brooklyn
July 12 – Wonder Bar, Asbury Park
July 13 – The Broadberry, Richmond, VA
July 14 – The Stag’s Head, Raleigh, NC
July 15 – The Windjammer, Charleston, SC
July 17 – The Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC
July 18 – City Winery, Atlanta
July 20 – Mercy Lounge, Nashville
Aug. 11 – Delmar Hall, St Louis
Aug. 14 – The Waiting Room, Omaha
Aug. 16 – Soiled Dove Underground, Denver
Aug. 17 – Schmiggity’s, Steamboat Springs, CO
Aug. 18 – Moxi Theater, Greeley, CO
Aug. 21 – The Crocodile, Seattle
Aug. 23 – Hawthorne Theatre, Portland
Aug. 25 – Cornerstone, Berkeley
Aug. 26 – Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, CA
Aug. 29 – The Troubadour, Los Angeles
Aug. 31 – Belly Up, San Diego
Sept. 1 – Chrome – Sante Fe Station, Las Vegas
Sept. 2 – MIM Museum Theatre, Phoenix
Sept. 3 – 191Toole, Tucson
Sept. 6 – Tower Theatre, Oklahoma City
Sept. 7 – The Shrine, Tulsa
Sept. 8 – Granada Theater, Dallas
Sept. 9 – One World Theatre, Austin
Sept. 12 – Saturn, Birmingham
Sept. 13 – Revelry Room, Chattanooga
Sept. 14 – The Foundry, Athens
Sept. 17 – The Attic, Tampa
Sept. 19 – High Dive, Gainesville
Sept. 21-22 – Epcot/Eat to the Beat Festival, Orlando
Sept. 23 – Amaturo Theater at Broward Center, Ft. Lauderdale
