Artificial Paradise (OneRepublic Album)

''Artificial Paradise'' is the sixth studio album by American pop rock band OneRepublic, released on July 12, 2024, through Mosley Music Group and Interscope Records. It follows their fifth studio album ''Human'' (2021), and includes the singles " Sunshine", " West Coast", " I Ain't Worried", " Runaway", "Mirage" with Mishaal Tamer (from '' Assassin's Creed Mirage''), " I Don't Wanna Wait" with David Guetta, " Nobody" (from '' Kaiju No .8''), and " Fire (Official UEFA Euro 2024 Song)" with Meduza and Leony. The latter three were only included on the deluxe digital edition of the album. "Hurt" was the first single released following the album's announcement. The album is the last of the band's contract with Interscope, before they moved to A&M Records. The super deluxe edition of the album was released on December 6, 2024, including acoustic versions of some of the tracks.

Background and composition

In a social media post announcing ''Artificial Paradise'', lead singer Ryan Tedder explained that the album began with their single " West Coast", which was written in 2016 in a New Orleans hotel room, and followed by further standalone singles in the subsequent eight years that the band felt "didn't quite make sense together" but were kept as more songs were written and recorded "in different hotel rooms and studios dotted around the world". Tedder said the rest of the album was then completed "in the last couple years" as they "navigated a world, full of artificial stories and constructs". He described the album title as "all too resonant with the world we currently live in, and the aspiration of so many people, for better or worse". The announcement was accompanied by a clip of the album's title track.

The tracklist for the digital version of the album was changed by Tedder two weeks before its release because it didn't "flow" and would not "feel new" for fans of the band. The digital tracklist is arranged in that all new songs, except "I Ain't Worried", would be at the front of the album while all the previously released standalone singles would be at the back. The physical editions of the album reflect the original tracklist.

Singles

Eight singles released from 2021 to 2024 are included on the album: " Sunshine", " West Coast", " I Ain't Worried" (from ''Top Gun: Maverick''), " Runaway", "Mirage" with Mishaal Tamer (from '' Assassin's Creed Mirage''), " I Don't Wanna Wait" with David Guetta, " Nobody" (from '' Kaiju No .8''), and " Fire (Official UEFA Euro 2024 Song)" with Meduza and Leony. The latter three were only included on the deluxe edition of the album. "Hurt" followed as the ninth single on July 5, 2024, making it the first to be released after the album's announcement. A remix of the song with Jelly Roll was released on November 22. "Sink or Swim" was released as the tenth single on August 29 alongside a music video.

Critical reception

Carla Feric of ''The Independent'' wrote that the album has a "selection of catchy anthems" and "lively, light and summery tracks", and felt that OneRepublic "have created a musically progressive blend which is easy-listening, and has enough tracks for anyone to find at least one song they'll enjoy". Writing for Grammy.com, Taylor Weatherby called it "a seamless blend of songs that will resonate with longtime and newer fans alike. From the layered production of 'Hurt,' to the feel-good vibes of 'Serotonin,' to the evocative lyrics of 'Last Holiday,' ''Artificial Paradise'' shows that OneRepublic's sound is as dialed-in as it is ever-evolving." Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic concluded that "Tedder knows what he's doing and, like contemporary output by Imagine Dragons and Coldplay, can pump out crowd-pleasing optimism as if he was on autopilot...for better or worse."

Track listing

Notes
* signifies a primary producer
* signifies a co-producer
* signifies an additional producer
* signifies a vocal producer

Personnel

OneRepublic
* Ryan Tedder – lead vocals
* Zach Filkins – guitar
* Drew Brown – guitar
* Eddie Fisher – drums
* Brent Kutzle – bass guitar
* Brian Willett – keyboards

Additional musicians

* John Nathaniel – programming (tracks 1, 3, 6, 13, 16), background vocals (3, 4, 6, 8–10, 13, 16), guitar (3), theremin (6), additional vocals (12)
* Jelly Roll – vocals (track 1)
* Tyler Spry – guitar (tracks 2, 5–7, 9, 14), background vocals (2, 9, 16), additional keyboards (7, 9), bass (7), programming (9)
* Loren Ferard – guitar (tracks 2, 7, 14), programming (2, 7), acoustic guitar (9)
* Alisa Xayalith – background vocals (track 2)
* Simon Oscroft – guitar (tracks 5, 14)
* Brandon Collins – programming (track 5), strings (11)
* Harry Charles – additional keyboards, programming (track 7)
* Brent Kutzle – background vocals (tracks 9, 15), programming (9)
* Joe Henderson – background vocals (tracks 10, 16), percussion (13)
* Brandyn Burnette – background vocals (track 10)
* Chase Stockman – background vocals (track 10)
* Devonne Fowlkes – additional vocals (track 12)
* Emoni Wilkins – additional vocals (track 12)
* Wil Merrell – additional vocals (track 12)
* Paul Nelson – cello (track 12)
* Craig Nelson – upright bass (track 12)
* Seanad Chang – viola (track 12)
* David Angell – violin (track 12)
* David Davidson – violin (track 12)
* Ben Samama – background vocals (track 13)
* Will Vaughan – guitar (track 13)
* Josh Varnadore – background vocals (track 16)
* Luca De Gregorio – drum programming, keyboards, percussion, synthesizer (track 18)
* Mattia Vitalie – drum programming, keyboards, percussion, synthesizer (track 18)
* Simone Giani – drum programming, keyboards, percussion, synthesizer (track 18)
* Leony – vocals (track 18)

Design
* Brody Harper – creative direction
* Douglas Hale – original collage art
* Kristin Weidemann – design and layout
* Jeremy Cowart – band photography
* Ryan Slaughter and Taylor Lowe (for TwoSevenTwo) – album art animation

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

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2024 albums
Albums produced by Ryan Tedder
Interscope Records albums
OneRepublic albums