Dierks Bentley has released his new single, “Different for Girls,” which features Elle King. It’s the follow-up to his two-week No. 1 single, “Somewhere on a Beach” – both of which are from his new album, Black, which is available beginning tomorrow (Friday, May 27th).
“There is a real honesty in these lyrics, and I haven’t heard a song written this way before. The differences in how guys and girls deal with a broken heart is really interesting material to me,” says Dierks. “Having two daughters certainly has changed the way I see the world and what they have ahead. What I love about Elle being on this record, besides her uniquely powerful but vulnerable voice, is that she’s a total badass. Having her perspective really helps tell the complete story.”
“When I got the call that Dierks wanted me to sing with him I was very honored, but I get a little shy when I’m asked to sing other people’s songs – let alone a duet with one of the biggest Country stars in the world,” added King. “Our voices blended really well together. Since I often write from the male perspective, I was really excited to be a part of someone else’s story that is jumping outside of the norm for a relationship song. The lyrics are really smart and I love that he is bringing a lot of attitude to modern country music.”
Dierks is set to perform the multi-week No. 1 smash “Somewhere On A Beach” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (May 26th) on NBC, before taking over Rockefeller Plaza as part of TODAY’s Summer Concert Series on BLACK Friday (May 27th at 7:00A ET/CT on NBC). The multi-Platinum singer/songwriter continues the celebration with CMT’s Instant Jam Takeover Weekend, as he co-hosts the Hot 20 Countdown (May 28th at 10:00A CT on CMT) episode from his 2016 SOMEWHERE ON A BEACH TOUR followed by the premiere of his surprise Instant Jam (May 28th at 8:00P CT on CMT) concert special from Knoxville, TN. For more information on the new album, upcoming appearances and tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.
Audio / Dierks Bentley talks about having Elle King sing on the song, “Different For Girls” on his new album, Black.
DownloadDierks Bentley (Elle King) OC: …new place. :36
“Well, I love Elle King’s voice. I mean she has such a unique voice, and you never know if her voice is going to blend with your voice. I didn’t found out until I went down to the studio in Austin, and right away it was just a really natural sounding blend. Her voice just lifted up this song. The lyrics of this song are pretty strong and her voice on this particular song really takes the song to a whole other level. I really wanted to find a way for her not to just be background vocals. I wanted to find a way to really get her included in the song, so I gave her the second verse and made the song more of a conversation as opposed to just background vocals. And it really, it just took the song to a whole new place.”
Audio / Elle King talks about the song “Different for Girls,” and how much she enjoyed singing with Dierks Bentley.
DownloadElle King (Different for Girls) OC: …song with him. 1:08
“The song itself, it’s an interesting take on a breakup or relationship song. I don’t know if this is why Dierks wanted me to sing on it, you know, besides just my voice, I think I take a really interesting writing approach with my songs about breakups, and I write often from the male perspective. And this song is really thinking about how different men and women are through a breakup, and so I was really excited to be a part of someone else’s song that’s kind of jumping outside the norm of a breakup song or a relationship song. I think it’s got a sweetness to it. The lyrics of this song are really smart, so I thought that it was kind of just a good fit, and I really do want to break out in the country world, because I love country music, not just because I play the banjo. I love country music, and I really love that he’s bringing like a lot of attitude, and I think comedy, to modern country. So, I was really excited to sing this song with him.”
Audio / Elle King says she was so excited to sing with superstar Dierks Bentley on “Different for Girls.”
DownloadElle King (Dierks’ song) OC: …instantly. :34
“I get really, really shy when I am asked to sing other people’s songs, let alone a duet with one of the biggest country stars in the world. And so I obviously said yes. I went in and I was so, so, so nervous, and I tried to learn the song as much as I could. I went in and he came in with a couple of people on his team, and he was literally the sweetest person ever, and I felt the song was really, really good. And so I was so excited, very, very nervous, but he made me feel very at ease instantly.”
