Red Sky (Hunter Hayes album)

Red Sky is the fifth major label studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes. It was released on April 21, 2023 and is classified as pop music.^[2] Writers of various of his songs for this album include Kane Parfitt and Lauren Frawley.

On February 9, Hayes announced the release date and the details for Red Sky, commenting:^[3]

@hunterhayes: "I’ve waited over a decade to say this… My first fully independent album, more than 3 years in the making – RED SKY – will be out everywhere APRIL 21st! This project is about the adventure of finding yourself to be yourself. Musically, it’s a road trip from where I’ve been to where I am. Lyrically, it’s for anyone who needs a reminder of how unique your fire inside is and how much the world needs more YOU in it."

— Hunter Hayes about Red Sky, via Instagram^[4]

The album lead single “The One That Got Away” was released on January 14, 2021.^[5] It was followed by a second single titled, “If You Change Your Mind” on March 15, 2021.^[6]

After the release of his reissue album Wild Blue (Complete), Hayes continued releasing new tracks for the album, with the album third single “Missing You” on July 8, 2022.^[7] “Could’ve Been You” was released as the fourth single on August 26, 2022. The album fifth and final single “Friend”, was released on October 21, 2022.^[8]

As promotional singles, six tracks from Red Sky were released before the album dropped, including the double release of “Sober” and “Someone Will” on January 18, 2023.^[9] Shortly after, Hayes released “Normal” and “Lonely Loves Me” as promotional singles on February 9, 2023.^[9] He went to release another double songs on March 8, 2023, with the tracks "Victory" and "About a Boy".^[10]

A reissue of the album titled, Red Sky Continued was released on October 13, 2023.^[11] It was promoted with the release of two singles: a remix version of "Feelings" featuring Loren Gray, titled "Feelings (Can I Be Honest?)" on May 25, 2023, although the remix was not included on the reissue or on any other edition.^[12] It was followed with the release of the project last single "Roses" as the reissue second and the album last single on September 8, 2023.^[13]

On February 21, 2023, Hayes announced The Red Sky Tour, a 22-show venture across the United States to promote the record. It commenced on May 3, in San Diego, CA.^[14]

Singer-songwriters Loren Gray, Abby Anderson, Sam DeRosa, and Frawley served as the tour opening acts.^[15][12]

Noah Wade of Melodic magazine stated that "Hayes' foray into pop, despite songs like "Tattoo" and "Everybody's Got Somebody but Me" deep in his discography, isn't a complete left turn" and that "His time as The Astronaut on "The Masked Singer," which saw him cover a litany of pop tunes including "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran and "If I Can't Have You" by Shawn Mendes, was a reminder to many of just how versatile of a vocalist he can be."^[16]

Nicholas Roberts of Square One Magazine voiced that "A consistent issue in Red Sky, greater than any to do with the songs themselves, is a matter of pacing" going on to indicate that "Every time one track builds pace and excitement, or lulls the listener into introspection, the tone suddenly changes and forces you to adjust to the new mood, it's not until the last half of the album that the pace is allowed to build more consistently to suit the overall theme of the album."^[17]