Keith Urban’s Unexpected Journey with ‘Flow State’

Keith Urban, known as a country music star, showcases his fluid songwriting style across genres. However, his 2026 album, “Flow State,” marks an unexpected shift. The album includes original songs with music legend Michael McDonald and features 10 yacht rock covers. Yacht rock refers to the soft rock genre from the mid-to-late ’70s and early ’80s. Classic examples are Player’s “Baby Come Back” and Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers’ “Just the Two of Us.” Even Urban was caught by surprise with this direction.

Urban’s Creative Process

Urban’s journey began with the acquisition and renovation of the former Tracking Room studio in Nashville, now called The Sound. To initiate the studio, he brought in session musicians and suggested recording yacht rock, a genre he has always admired for its strong song arrangements. Initially, Urban and his producer, Dann Huff, along with the band, recorded two songs in a single day. This success led to further sessions.

What started as a potential EP evolved into a full album, taking on a life of its own. Urban describes the process as pure joy, stating that yacht rock provides the perfect atmosphere for this spirit of creativity.

Preserving Classics with a Twist

While this is Urban’s first album with covers, he balanced preserving the classics with adding his signature style. He avoided merely replicating the originals. Instead, he found places for experimentation, such as extending outros. For instance, with “Summer Breeze,” he and engineer Mark Dobson extended the ending by adding more instrumentation, creating a unique version that still respects the original track. The collaborations on the album, like Little Big Town on Walter Egan’s “Magnet and Steel” and John Mayer on Bread’s “The Guitar Man,” highlight this approach.

Original Collaboration with Michael McDonald

The album’s sole original song, “We Go Back,” tells the story of a couple reconnecting later in life. Urban, along with BRELAND, Sam Sumser, and Sean Small, wrote it in 2020. Urban envisioned McDonald singing the chorus. In 2026, this dream became a reality when they sent McDonald the track. To Urban’s delight, McDonald agreed to the collaboration. Despite not planning to include original tracks initially, everything fell into place.

A Refuge During Turbulent Times

“Flow State” offered relief to Urban and his listeners during challenging times. Urban described choosing songs for their timeless good feeling, serving as an antidote to divisive times. The album provides listeners an opportunity to escape and enjoy the exhilarating music once again. In January, Urban finalized a divorce from actor Nicole Kidman after 19 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Urban describes the album as an unexpected collection that arrived at a critical time.

The title “Flow State” captures the concept of ongoing movement and transition. Despite the challenges in creating it, the album appears effortless. Urban is grateful for how it turned out and remains protective of his family. He emphasizes the power of a yacht rock song to connect people, offering listeners a momentary respite and a vision of clear skies.