Lady Antebellum’s New Music Is a Return to Their Old Sound

You may have noticed something familiar about Lady Antebellum's new single, "What If I Never Get Over You." If it reminded you of "Need You Now" or any other songs from the country trio's back catalog, you're not alone: With their next record, which they expect to finish by the end of the year, Lady A are making a return to their older sound.

"It’s felt a lot like the early days," Dave Haywood shared at a recent media event for the single. "It feels like we’re kind of returning to the core of who we are, what we do."

You can't get much more on-brand for Lady Antebellum than a Hillary Scott / Charles Kelley harmony on a longing ballad. In the past few years, the three took risks and evolved with the sound of radio by putting out songs including "You Look Good" and "Bartender." Now, with their new label, Big Machine; a Las Vegas residency underway; and an established career, they're doing what they do best.

"To me, it’s probably my favorite thing we’ve put out since "Need You Now,"" Kelley admits. "It just has that longing thing that I think is something we usually try to gravitate toward. We’ve taken a lot of chances and tried a lot of different things, which has been good for our live show, but I do think at the core of us, it’s definitely more of this type of a sound."

All three members of Lady Antebellum are married with children, so while they're not experiencing the woes of dating in full effect, they chose to cut "What If I Never Get Over You" because it reminded them of an experience everyone has had. This sound is present, too, in upcoming tracks, such as "Be Patient With My Love," which have only been heard at their live shows. Beyond sonic qualities, Lady A's new music is headed in a direction of reflective feelings and vulnerability.

"It’s also a sound and a feel. Sometimes it’s not just a subject matter -- it’s a feeling. And it feels nostalgic. It feels like those first two records, but with a freshness for sure," Kelley says. "You can try and analyze it and say it’s this or that when you start writing these songs that feel more vulnerable and reminiscent of where we were, then it just starts to come together that way."

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