The Hoosiers will finally release their fifth studio album ‘Confidence’ this autumn. 

Eight years after vocalist Irwin Sparkes and drummer Alan Sharland released their most recent LP ‘The Secret Service’ (2015), the duo have shared details of it’s long-awaited follow-up, which is due for release on September 15.

Produced by Sam Miller, who mixed the first album, the album was recorded at Angelic Recording Studios and is preceded by the single Hello Sunshine, out now. 

‘Confidence’ is out September 15 via Downtown Music Publishing and available to pre-order now.

Tracklist: The Hoosiers – Confidence

1. Welcome to Confidence
2. Making a Monster
3. Hello Sunshine
4. Idaho
5. G.O.a.T.
6. Lip Sinking
7. Losing Your Balance
8. Things You Remember When You’re Falling
9. Snowflake
10. Confidence (Is Easy)
11. So High (Acoustic)
12. Lying

Speaking exclusively to RETROPOP earlier this year, the duo – who launched into the UK Top 10 in 2007 with their debut single Worried About Ray, before topping the Albums Chart with their long-player ‘The Trick to Life’ – opened up about their return to music, with Alan sharing: “Last year was a big year for us and a lot of things changed in our world. We have new management and a new record deal, which is all driving towards the new album.” 

It’s a project that, for a while, seemed like it may never happen. “I fell out of love with our band somewhere in the 2010s but, possibly as a by-product of having nearly lost the opportunity to play music again in lockdown, Al and I find ourselves more in love with each other, the band and making music with each other in this particular band than ever before,” added Irwin. “Possibly a mid-life crisis but we’re having too much of a good time to care.”

He continued: “Lockdown gave us a reality check. We feared playing live again was a lost cause when Al and I had a call with Craig Logan who signed us to RCA and admonished us to remind people who we were with an album of positivity. I’d just released a solo album of melancholy ‘doomfolk’ as White Tail Falls and was so ready to find the silver lining in lockdown, to provide an avenue of escapism. It’s exactly what this album was.” 

According to Alan, ‘Confidence’ is “definitely the most similar album we’ve done for the first one,” with Irwin adding: “We wrote and recorded it in about three months and it was the most refreshing, life-enhancing experience of making music we’ve had,” Irwin beams. 

“It sounds like what a Hoosiers album would sound like if we’d come out in 2023. There’s optimism, effervescence and joie de vie. It’s a sonic shot of ginger, carrot and turmeric: adding zest to your life. And that’s a promise. We’re already at work on the follow-up!”

READ MORE: The Hoosiers working on new album with producer behind their chart-topping debut