Drake White Announces New Album The Optimystic

Drake White is ready to take his inspirational spirit to new heights, announcing his upcoming album, THE OPTIMYSTIC, set for release on March 11.

Where Muscle Shoals and Nashville meet is where you’ll find White’s “smooth brand of country-soul” (Billboard), a combination of soulful vocals and Country lyrics with an R&B groove running underneath a down-home sound.

After collapsing on stage due to a stroke in August 2019, White was told by doctors that he might never perform again. After multiple surgeries and months of physiotherapy, he overcame those odds and returned to the road, pouring his journey into the music that makes up THE OPTIMYSTIC. The album is a portrait of White’s lifelong optimism and resilience, following the Alabama native as he explores a new level of vulnerability to share his story.

White co-penned 12 of the 14 songs on his new project, teaming with all-star writers like Chris DeStefano, Randy Montana and Eric Paslay to explore the process of physically and mentally healing while celebrating the most important people in his life and expressing his fondness for a simple way of life. He was also involved in producing all but one of THE OPTIMYSTIC’s songs, producing two tracks solo and teaming with The Cadillac Three’s Jaren Johnston for 10 others while Johnston took the reins on “It Takes Time.” The album concludes with a recording of “Amazing Grace” performed by White’s grandfather’s parish with his father and grandmother leading the choir.

THE OPTIMYSTIC’s title track was written by White with Kelli Johnson and Lauren Weintraub, and is available instantly for fans who pre-order the album. The song wraps White’s warm voice around a series of guitars as he longs for the optimistic mindset he used to have, ultimately deciding to make a return to that mentality.

“It’s been five years since my last album,” White shares. “I’ve had two record deals, six brain surgeries, a hemorrhagic stroke and a pandemic that has tried to rip us all apart. Through it all, I’ve always fought to keep my glass half full. THE OPTIMYSTIC is the action of keeping that glass half full and finding faith, hope and joy in the circus of this thing we call life.”