Dierks Bentley releases his new album, Riser, on Tuesday (February 25th), and it’s a project that is very close to his heart and soul. It’s the first album since the death of his father and the birth of his son, and all of the emotions about those two life-altering experiences, as well as the balance between being on the road and being a family man, are reflected in Riser. With such songs as “I Hold On,” “Riser” and “Here on Earth,” coupled with “Five,” “Drunk on a Plane,” “Sounds of Summer” and “Back Porch,” Dierks runs the gamut of life, love, loss, resilience and renewal.

“Once I kind of knew what I was feeling with my dad and just all this stuff, I had a template to start from for writing and listening for stuff to kind of fit that mold,” says Dierks. “I had this tour on the road which my true colors actually came out. And that feeling was able to be brought into the album…these fun songs that kind of encapsulate who I am, as well as a father and a son who has lost his father. So, yeah, it’s [been] a pretty incredible journey the last two years. It’s been amazing.”

Catch Dierks on Tuesday (February 25th) on ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live on Wednesday (February 26th), as well as The View on Thursday (February 27th).

Dierks Bentley (Riser album songs) OC: …been amazing. :44
“Once I kind of knew what I was feeling with my dad and just all this stuff, I had a template to start from for writing and listening for stuff to kind of fit that mold. Luckily for me, there was enough gap between my dad passing away and my son being born that we were able to go out, I had this tour on the road which my true colors actually came out. And that feeling was able to be brought into the album with songs like ‘Back Porch,’ ‘Chillin’ on a Back Porch,’ and ‘Drunk on a Plane,’ and ‘Sounds of Summer,’ these fun songs that kind of encapsulate who I am, as well as a father and a son who has lost his father. So, yeah, It’s [been] a pretty incredible journey the last two years. It’s been amazing.”

Dierks Bentley (Riser album excitement) OC: …excited about it. :21
“I’ve never been more excited about an album, you know? I was actually just thinking earlier about all the press we have to do surrounding albums can be fatiguing, but for some reason, even though I’m totally exhausted, I’m just really engaged in this whole process because — I don’t know what it is. I think I just really feel great about the album and believe in it and generally just excited about it.”