John Legend and Brandy have joined the Audible family. The R&B icons will be featured in the final two installments of the company’s Words + Music series.
The program is designed to “take listeners on unprecedented musical journeys spliced together with original performances and personal memoir.”
Up first is Legend, whose Living Legend episode debuts Monday, Oct. 3. The segment will examine the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner’s life and career, spanning different generations and entertainment fields not limited to music.
It will also tackle “early losses that forced him to step up as a musician at an early age, to his creative connection with Kanye West that ultimately birthed his stage name, to witnessing the racial injustices that inspired his activism.”
“Music has always been how I express emotion and how I spread love and compassion,” Legend shared. “I hope that hearing the stories behind my music gives the songs a deeper meaning. It has been a fulfilling and wonderful experience to revisit these times in my life.”
Additionally, live from the jazz club Ronnie Scott’s in London, Legend performed records from his illustrious discography, including songs from his new album, LEGEND, which was released on Sept. 9 via Republic Records.
As for Brandy, the Vocal Bible’s installment, A New Moon, premieres Friday, Dec. 2. She teams again with Gerrick Kennedy, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and author, to write and conceive the candid recount of her decade-spanning career.
A New Moon is described as “an intimate and bracingly raw meditation on power and purpose from one of the most influential singers of all time.”
Brandy teased details about a New Moon concept in March while celebrating the 20th anniversary of her innovative third album Full Moon. It has not been confirmed if those “new performances, new vocals [and] new visuals” have anything to do with this series.
Zola Mashariki, head of Audible Studios, said, “We are thrilled to welcome two more beloved artists to the Words + Music vault. When curating our Words + Music roster, we are not only looking for accomplished musicians, but also artists who move us; artists that have defined a generation and captured the pop culture zeitgeist. John Legend and Brandy have each made their mark on the Billboard charts, but more importantly on our hearts and souls.”
“Their experiences navigating an ever-evolving industry and society through their storied careers have no doubt provided them with stories and anecdotes that will be music to our listeners’ ears.”
In other Legend-related news, the 12-time Grammy winner just shared the visual for “Wonder Woman.”
The song appears on his newly-released album LEGEND. Jazmine Sullivan, Ledisi, Ty Dolla $ign, Rick Ross, Muni Long, The Free Nationals, and Amber Mark are some artists to feature on the double album.
Legend will further the album’s promotional campaign when he returns to Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino for his Love In Las Vegas residency on Oct. 14. He will play eight shows through Oct. 29.
Brandy, who recently inked a deal with Motown Records, is head down in the acting world.
In August, she was announced to star in the upcoming psychological thriller The Front Room. Back in March, she signed on for Netflix’s holiday film Best. Christmas. Ever.
On the music tip, Brandy and Daniel Caesar were awarded a gold certification for “Love Again.”
The Grammy-nominated song appeared on Brandy’s 2020 album b7 and Caesar’s 2019 effort Case Study 01.