Christian Gates has built a career on edge, and that isn't going anywhere. But on his upcoming album, I Believe in Ghosts, he's letting a more mature, more vulnerable side of himself through.
Two songs from the project are already out: Closer Than Friends and Something Between Us. Both tell deep, personal stories in a way that's less vulgar than his usual style, leaning on real instrumentation and more musicianship than fans are used to. The lyrics lean poetic, somber, closer to a Killers feel than the brasher Christian Gates sound of the past.
The Deep Cuts
Further into the album sit songs fans haven't heard yet. Chase is one. Changes is another, and if it makes the final tracklist, it's a dark, deeply personal song about suicide. Christian Gates has said that writing tracks like this pulls him back to a harder period in his past, though he's been clear that it isn't a reflection of where he is now.
Hints of this more reflective side have shown up before, in songs like I Won't Beg for You and I Need You. But this album goes further, with more care and attention put into the storytelling than fans have seen from him previously.
Live First, on the Road
Fans won't have to wait for streaming to hear some of this material. Christian Gates is performing songs from the album on his I Believe in Ghosts tour, with Julia Alexa opening. Concertgoers will get first crack at hearing these songs live, before they're officially released.
The Visuals and the Collaborators
The album's cover art comes from Moody Darkroom, who has shot the majority of Christian Gates' cover art since FVCK NIGHT, with one exception. On the production side, he's again working with familiar names: Nick Anderson, Stint, and Elation.
A more mature lens, without losing the edge that built the fanbase in the first place.
It's a new side of Christian Gates, and one that should give longtime fans plenty to sit with when the full album finally lands.