Confessions (Louise album)
| Confessions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 May 2025 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 29:48 | |||
| Label | Lil Lou | |||
| Producer |
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| Louise chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Confessions | ||||
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Confessions is the fifth studio album by English singer Louise. It was released on 23 May 2025 by Lil Lou Records. Its release is preceded by the singles "Confession", "Love Me More", and "Borderline".[1] Working with a variety of collaborators, the project includes contributions from Jon Shave, Anya Jones, Karen Poole, Tre Jean-Marie, MNEK, Miranda Cooper and Hannah Robinson.
Background and composition
Work on Confessions began over a year before release.[2] The deluxe edition's bonus tracks, "Diamonds" and "L.U.V", were some of the first written, and the former of the two cemented some of the writers and producers Redknapp would work with on the album.[3] According to the singer, "Confession" was the song that set the style and tone for the rest of the record.[4] The process of recording was guided by a desire to create modern music unrestricted by a need to appeal to radio stations.[5] Louise worked with, in her own words, "anyone who's made hit music in the last four or five years" to create Confessions, among them Jon Shave, MNEK, Wayne Hector, Anya Jones and others.[2] The final, mastered version was delivered to Redknapp around January 2025.[2]
Confessions is an album of dance-pop,[5] nu-disco and funk[6] music where "synths, strings, and house-inspired beats" are prominent.[3]
Promotion
Singles
On 13 February 2025, Louise released "Confession", the album's lead single;[7] it debuted at number 75 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart, and at number 81 on the UK Singles Sales Chart, on 21 February 2025.[8] A promotional single, "Love Me More", was released on 21 March 2025.[9] It debuted and peaked at number 83 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart, and at number 88 on the UK Singles Sales Chart.[10] "Borderline" was released as the second single on 10 April 2025.[11] No official music videos were released by Louise to promote the album's singles.
Commercial performance
In the United Kingdom, Confessions was a commercial success. On 30 May 2025, the album debuted at number 8 selling 6,419 copies on the UK Albums Chart Top 100, becoming Louise's first album since 1997's Woman in Me, to reach the Top 10;[12] additionally, the album debuted at number 4 on the UK Albums Sales Chart, number 2 on the Albums Downloads Chart, number 8 on the Vinyl component chart, number 1 on the cassette Chart and number 4 on the Independent Albums Chart. Confessions went on to spend two weeks on the UK Albums Sales chart, and three weeks on the UK Albums Downloads chart.[13]
Reception
The album was received positively upon release. Bradley Stern of MuuMuse named it "an all-killer, no-skips affair" and even "one of the best pop albums of 2025".[14] Writing for The Yorkshire Times, Jeremy Williams-Chalmers called it a "well-written, well-produced and strikingly insightful pop rocket".[15]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Confession" |
| Shave | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Borderline" | Jean-Marie | 2:40 | |
| 3. | "Manifesting" |
| Shave | 2:57 |
| 4. | "It Ain't Love" |
|
| 2:26 |
| 5. | "Only Dancer" |
| Parx | 3:34 |
| 6. | "Follow Me" |
| Parx | 2:49 |
| 7. | "Get Into It" |
| Shave | 3:02 |
| 8. | "Love Me More" |
| Shave | 2:52 |
| 9. | "Don't Kill My Vibe" |
| Shave | 3:33 |
| 10. | "Just Like That" |
| Shave | 2:34 |
| Total length: | 29:48 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "L.U.V" |
| Whiting | 2:53 |
| 12. | "Diamonds" |
| Shave | 2:22 |
| Total length: | 35:03 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Release" | 2:34 | ||
| 13. | "Crush" | 2:47 | ||
| 14. | "Diamonds" |
| Shave | 2:22 |
| Total length: | 40:24 | |||
Notes
- "Get Into It" contains a sample of "Throb", performed by Janet Jackson.[17]
- During the week of release, multiple other editions of the album were released:
- A "deluxe instrumental" edition featuring instrumental versions of the standard 10 tracks sequenced right after the originals[18]
- An extended edition with extended mixes of the standard set of songs[19]
- A "deluxe acapella" edition featuring a capella versions of all 14 songs, including bonus tracks[20]
- A "deluxe continuous mix edition" with an 11th track, the full deluxe album made into one continuous mix.[21]
- An Amazon Music exclusive "audio commentary edition" with each of the 10 standard tracks preceded by short commentary from the singer.[22]
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[16]
- Louise Redknapp – vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 3, 11, 12)
- John Webber – mastering
- Paul Norris – mixing (track 1)
- Joshua Ager – mixing (tracks 2–12)
- Jon Shave – all instruments (tracks 1, 3, 7–10, 12)
- Anya Jones – backing vocals (tracks 1, 3, 8–10)
- Reiad Chibah – string arrangement, additional strings (tracks 1, 3)
- Everton Nelson – violins (tracks 1, 3)
- Richard George – violins (tracks 1, 3)
- Emil Chakalov – violins (tracks 1, 3)
- Natalia Bonner – violins (tracks 1, 3)
- Marianne Haynes – violins (tracks 1, 3)
- Alison Dods – violins (tracks 1, 3)
- Anna de Bruin – violins (tracks 1, 3)
- Lucy Jeal – violins (tracks 1, 3)
- Oliver Langford – violins (tracks 1, 3)
- Katherine Chibah – additional strings (tracks 1, 3)
- Kate Musker – additional strings (tracks 1, 3)
- Ian Burdge – additional strings (tracks 1, 3)
- Chris Worsey – additional strings (tracks 1, 3)
- Lou Dearsley – additional strings (tracks 1, 3)
- Tre Jean-Marie – all instruments (track 2)
- Pete Hammerton – all instruments (track 4)
- Will Simms – all instruments (track 4)
- Parx – all instruments (tracks 5, 6)
- Sam Harper – backing vocals (tracks 7, 11, 12)
- Anthony Whiting – all instruments (track 11)
- Oscar J. Ryan – photography
- Lewis Shaw – design
Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] | 167 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] | 7 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[25] | 8 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[26] | 4 |
References
- ^ Gotto, Connor (19 February 2025). "Louise announces new album Confessions". Retropop. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
- ^ a b c Smith, Carl (13 February 2025). "Louise unleashes Confession: "I'm not a heritage act, I'm pushing forward"". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ a b Magnocavallo, Fabio (22 May 2025). "Louise Redknapp Interview: 'This is the honest I've ever been'". Euphoria. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Louise on taking nothing for granted". The Herald Magazine. 31 May 2025. p. 43. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Wratten, Marcus (27 May 2025). "Louise Redknapp: 'I'm a massive ally – and always will be'". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ White, Adam (23 March 2025). "Louise Redknapp: 'For years I wasn't scrutinised. Then bang – everybody had an opinion'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Tabberer, Jamie (13 February 2025). "Louise on poptastic return with new single and LP: 'I feel better than I've ever felt' (EXCLUSIVE)". Attitude. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Louise - Confession". Official Charts. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ Magnocavallo, Fabio (21 March 2025). "Louise - Love Me More". Euphoria. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Louise - Love Me More - Official Charts". Official Charts Company. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ Gotto, Connor (17 April 2025). "Louise shares Borderline as second single from upcoming album Confessions". Retropop. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100 on 30/5/2025 30 May 2025 - 5 June 2025". Official Charts. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Confessions - Louise". Official Charts. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Stern, Bradley (23 May 2025). "Louise's 'Confessions' Is One of the Best Pop Albums of 2025". MuuMuse. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Williams-Chalmers, Jeremy (26 May 2025). "Albums: Louise Confessions". The Yorkshire Times. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Confessions (Media notes). Louise. Lil Lou Records. 23 May 2025.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Gotto, Connor (3 June 2024). "Watch Louise debut new Janet Jackson-sampling track at Mighty Hoopla". Retropop. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ "Louise – Confessions – 20 x File (Deluxe Instrumental Edition, FLAC, Album), 2025 [r34088206]". Discogs. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Louise - Confessions Extended Edition Digital Download". Louise Official Store. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Louise – Confessions – 28 x File (Deluxe Acapella Edition, WAV, Album), 2025 [r34107439]". Discogs. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Louise – Confessions – 11 x File (Hi-Res 24-Bit 44.1 kHz Deluxe Continuous Mix Edition, FLAC, Album, Stereo), 2025 [r34129828]". Discogs. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Play Confessions (Audio Commentary Edition) by Louise on Amazon Music". Amazon Music. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Ultratop.be – Louise – Confessions" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2025.