Keith Urban, a renowned country music star, is known for his diverse songwriting style. However, his 2026 album, ‘Flow State,’ marks an unexpected shift. The album features collaborations with music legend Michael McDonald and includes 10 cover songs of the yacht rock genre. Yacht rock refers to soft rock from the late ’70s and early ’80s, with classics like Player’s ‘Baby Come Back‘ and Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers’ ‘Just the Two of Us‘.
How Urban Entered the ‘Flow State’
The idea for the album began with Urban’s purchase and restoration of the former Tracking Room studio in Nashville, now named The Sound. To inaugurate the space, Urban gathered some session musicians and suggested trying a yacht rock song. ‘I’ve always loved that loosely defined genre, and the songs are great,’ he shared, resulting in the recording of two tracks in one day.
The momentum increased, leading to multiple sessions, and what started as a potential EP evolved into a full album. Urban remarked, ‘It really took on a life of its own.’
Recording for Joy and Experimentation
Urban and his crew recorded the album purely for enjoyment. He described yacht rock as ‘the perfect genre for that spirit’, characterized by an easy presence. While covering classic tracks, Urban aimed to preserve their integrity while infusing his style.
Flow Stateexists somewhere in the middle, with Urban’s sonic signatures intact.
Extended outro sections provided opportunities for experimentation. An example is their version of ‘Summer Breeze‘, which includes added keyboard and acoustic guitar, morphing into a new piece.
The album’s collaborations are prominent, featuring Little Big Town on Walter Egan’s ‘Magnet and Steel‘ and John Mayer on Bread’s ‘The Guitar Man‘.
Keith Urban and Michael McDonald Collaborate on ‘We Go Back’
The album’s original track, ‘We Go Back‘, is a nostalgic piece about a couple reuniting later in life. Urban wrote the song in 2020 with BRELAND, Sam Sumser, and Sean Small, envisioning McDonald during the creation process. By 2026, the collaboration with McDonald materialized, enhancing the dream project.
‘It was surreal,’ Urban said, as the pieces fell into place unexpectedly, without initial plans of writing original songs for the album.
The Balm of Music in a Tumultuous Time
Urban expressed that the songs covered on ‘Flow State‘ are as enjoyable to sing now as they were when first released. The music acts as an antidote to contemporary challenges, providing joy to listeners. In January, Urban and actor Nicole Kidman divorced after 19 years, adding a personal context to the project.
Describing ‘Flow State‘ as an unexpected collection, Urban noted, ‘It was a 180-degree turn from what was happening at the time.’ He emphasized the simplicity of music connecting people and offering a momentary escape.
A yacht rock song can connect people to one another,he concluded, highlighting the unity a single song can bring.
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