After nearly a decade of carving out a space as one of the most emotionally resonant voices in modern pop, Calum Scott is ready to deliver his most personal project yet. Announced today, his third studio album, Avenoir, will arrive on September 12 via Capitol Records, and it already promises to be his most introspective and sonically adventurous work to date.
Borrowing its name from a poetic term coined by The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows—avenoir describes the wish that memories could flow in reverse—the album reflects on the beauty and heartbreak of looking back while moving forward. “The songs on this album speak to both regret and sorrow, and to undying love,” Scott says, capturing the emotional duality that defines his new work.
The first single, “God Knows,” dropped today with an accompanying visualizer, and it’s a bold reintroduction to the artist. Produced by longtime collaborator Jon Maguire and The Nocturns, the track opens with a sparse piano melody before erupting into a soaring pop-rock ballad. A showstopping key change near the bridge adds theatrical drama to Scott’s heartfelt plea for forgiveness—his vocal control is both immaculate and vulnerable.
“God Knows” is deeply human in its honesty, a love letter born from regret, longing, and the universal ache of realizing too late what we had. It’s the kind of track destined to find a home at both weddings and heartbreak playlists, which has always been Calum Scott’s sweet spot.
Having recently supported Ed Sheeran on stadium dates and toured globally, Scott returns not only with stronger vocals but a deeper sense of purpose. Avenoir looks to be more than just an album—it’s a personal reckoning and a celebration of the moments, messy and magnificent, that make us who we are.
