Chase Wright is entering a brand new chapter, both personally and creatively, with the release of his deeply vulnerable third studio album, Chasing Shadows. Arriving May 8, the 18-track project captures the emotional weight of heartbreak, healing, self-reflection, and ultimately, hope, as the rising country artist closes one chapter of his life and steps confidently into another.

For Wright, Chasing Shadows is far more than just another album release. It is a body of work born from one of the most difficult seasons of his life, and one he says took years to fully process and complete.

"I’m just so fired up that this record is finally coming out," Wright told Fandom Daily. "These songs got me through a really difficult time, and I’m glad to finally be bookending that time period of my life and hopefully moving into something a little bit lighter."

 

 

 

 

 

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The project, which Wright began writing at the end of 2023 and throughout 2024, leans heavily into honesty and emotional transparency. Rather than writing with expectations in mind, Wright focused on creating music that reflected exactly where he was mentally and emotionally during that season of life.

"I think the biggest theme is honesty," he explains. "Everything I write is true to what I’m going through or what I’m loving creatively at the time. Some of these songs I truly needed to write for my own mental health. I needed to get that stuff out because I didn’t want to hold onto it anymore."

That emotional honesty is especially evident on one of the album’s standout tracks, "">I Let the Devil In," which arrived ahead of the full album release. Written alongside Dan Swank and Emma Lynn White, the haunting track dives into the aftermath of realizing a relationship was not what it initially seemed. Through vivid storytelling and emotionally cutting lyrics, Wright captures the painful clarity that comes after betrayal.

"This one’s about letting someone into your life who you thought was everything you wanted, and realizing they were anything but," Wright says of the track. "It’s that moment where everything clicks, and you see the truth for what it is."

While Chasing Shadows explores some of Wright’s heaviest emotions lyrically, the project also marks a noticeable sonic evolution for the artist. After feeling creatively disconnected during portions of his previous album, Wright intentionally pushed himself to rediscover the fearless creative energy that originally inspired him as an artist.

"This third record, I really wanted to dive back into that same creative energy that I had during my first project," he says. "I wanted to implement sounds maybe I hadn’t done before."

One of the clearest examples comes through on the album’s title track, "Chasing Shadows," which Wright describes as an upbeat, windows-down anthem inspired by the stomp-clap energy of bands like Mumford & Sons. While the instrumentation feels lighter and more energetic, the emotional depth remains at the center of the songwriting.

"It feels so happy and upbeat, but it’s actually about something moderately sad," Wright stressed. "I wanted to create something that felt good while still being honest emotionally."

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Fans have already started embracing the new music in a major way during Wright’s recent live shows, something he admits surprised him. While touring last fall, Wright noticed audiences singing along to unreleased tracks with even more passion than some of his older fan favorites.

"There was one show where people wanted to hear 'It Was Always You' so bad that I came back and played it twice," he recalls. "That’s never happened to me before in my life. It was one of those moments where I realized this record is really connecting."

That connection between artist and listener has become one of the most meaningful aspects of Wright’s career. While many of the songs were written from deeply personal experiences, Wright says fans often interpret the music through completely different situations in their own lives.

"I’ve realized over the years that people take these songs and connect them to completely different situations in their own lives," he says. "But there’s always some common thread emotionally, and I think that’s really special."

Now stepping into a happier season personally, including recently getting married, Wright says releasing Chasing Shadows feels both cathartic and symbolic of a fresh start.

"It’s crazy to think about where I was two years ago compared to now," he says. "Personally and creatively, I’m in such a better place. I’m already working on the next project, and it’s lighter and happier. I feel like I’m finally on the other side of all of it."

 

 

 

 

 

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Even as he looks ahead to what’s next, Wright hopes Chasing Shadows can provide listeners with the same comfort and understanding it gave him while creating it.

"I really believe in this project," he says. "Every single song on there is something I can passionately stand behind. I hope these songs help people through whatever they’re going through, and hopefully fans can grow with me along the way."

Feature Photo Credit: Michelle May