Moody Blues singer/bassist John Lodge will release a new solo single called “The Sun Will Shine” on April 30 as a digital download and via streaming services, and the track will be available for pre-order soon.
Lodge wrote the song while isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic at his residence in Florida, and was inspired to look toward the future with a positive outlook by watching the sun rise each morning over the Cocohatchee Bay near the town of Naples.
Like John’s previous solo single, 2020’s “In These Crazy Times,” “The Sun Will Shine” features guest backing vocals from his friend, current Yes singer Jon Davison. Lodge recorded the track remotely with contributions from his 10,000 Light Years Band. The group features two members of The Moody Blues’ touring band — keyboardist Alan Hewitt and drummer Billy Ashbaugh — as well as guitarist Duffy King and cellist Jason Charboneau.
“The Sun Will Shine” will be part of an upcoming three-song EP titled On Reflection that also will include a 2021 remix of “In These Crazy Times” and a new instrumental titled “Sunset over Cocohatchee Bay.”
The EP will be incorporated into a new live album called The Royal Affair and After that’s scheduled for release this September. As Lodge told ABC Audio recently, the album will feature performances recorded while he and his solo band served as an opening act for the Yes-headlined 2019 Royal Affair Tour.
“Who could have thought this pandemic is still with us?” Lodge says in a statement. “I’m just grateful that I have my music to keep me company, and in a surreal way it has kept me focused on writing and recording new songs. I hope with these new songs to share with you my reflections of these times.”
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