On His One-Year Death Anniversary, a New Prince EP Is Dropping
On Friday (April 21), the world will have reached one full year without music’s renowned icon and sorely missed genre-smith Prince.
But even in the Purple One’s absence, he’s gracing the music world yet again with the delivery of a fittingly titled six-track EP, Deliverance.
The posthumous project features never-before-heard music recorded between 2006 and 2008, with the title track already up for grabs on Apple Music and iTunes, Billboard reports. The site adds that the late legendary musician co-wrote and co-produced each track beside his studio engineer, Ian Boxill, who has now finalized the groundwork in the year since Prince’s death. In a press statement, Billboard specifies, Boxill praised the “Purple Rain” artist for his determination to create the EP’s songs that would inspire and motivate the world even after his passing.
"I believe 'Deliverance' is a timely release with everything going on in the world today and in light of the one-year anniversary of his passing,” Boxill reportedly said. “I hope when people hear Prince singing these songs it will bring comfort to many. Prince once told me that he would go to bed every night thinking of ways to bypass major labels and get his music directly to the public. When considering how to release this important work, we decided to go independent because that's what Prince would have wanted."
Furthermore, all sale proceeds from the EP will go toward Prince’s estate, reports Billboard. Currently, Deliverance has been a no-show on Tidal and Spotify streaming services, but will become available for pre-order on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon as well as physical copies on deck June 2.
In the meantime, listen to the first release from the EP, “Deliverance,” below.