Key Takeaways:

• Album Update: Michael Stipe is finalizing the lyrics for his debut solo album, expected by the end of this year.
• Unique Sound: One song features a tree hearing itself for the first time, recorded in his backyard.
• Long Wait: The album’s delay was influenced by the pandemic and Stipe’s need for a break after R.E.M.
• Performance: Stipe performed a new song titled “The Rest of Ever” on Colbert’s show.

Michael Stipe appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Thursday evening, bringing with him a performance of a brand new song, plus an update on his long-awaited debut solo album.

A title for the album has not been revealed yet, but Stipe noted that he’s currently “writing the final lyrics” and shared a bit about the music.

“One of the songs is the sound of a tree hearing itself for the first time,” he said. “It’s this confusing situation. My friend recorded a tree in my backyard in Georgia and played it back to itself, and so it sounds like Daft Punk.”

READ MORE: Underrated R.E.M.: The Most Overlooked Songs From Every LP

Though Stipe did not mention a specific date, he said that the album will be released at the end of this year.

On Colbert’s show, Stipe performed a brand new song called “The Rest of Ever,” which is available for viewing below.

Why Has Michael Stipe’s Album Taken This Long to Make?

Though he’s put out a few songs over the years, this will be Stipe’s first ever solo release, and it’s a project he’s been working on for quite a while. In a recent interview with The Times, the former R.E.M. singer spoke about how the pandemic was a key factor in the delay of the album.

“Covid didn’t help,” he explained, “but I’m finishing it. When the band split, I just needed a break. I took five years but I got pulled back into music. It’s been a struggle. That’s the main thing. I want it to be great, but I’ve got the pressure of having been in R.E.M. and it’s a high bar, because I want this to be as good as that, and that’s near impossible. So it’s f***ing exciting but also terrifying, and I’m doing the music for the first time, too, and I think I’m good at it but not great.”