Tina Arena has announced a new six-track covers EP, Way of the World, arriving on October 16th.
The first taste is a sweeping reimagining of New Order’s “True Faith”, with the full project also featuring Arena’s interpretations of songs by Max Q, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Ada Mori and Frank Ocean.
Produced by François Tétaz and Luke Howard and recorded primarily at Melbourne’s Synth Temple, Way of the World reimagines the material through orchestral arrangements, prepared piano, analogue synthesis and electronic textures.
The tracklist includes “True Faith” along with Max Q and Micheal Hutchence’s “Way of the World”, Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence”, Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World”, Mori’s “Torno Bambina” and Ocean’s “Cayendo”.
Rather than simply reproducing the original recordings, Arena and her collaborators have rebuilt the songs through orchestral arrangements, prepared piano, analogue synthesisers and electronic textures.
“Making the deliberate choice to focus on the lyric of ‘True Faith’ was musically revelatory for me,” Arena said. “It presented a blank musical canvas with endless vulnerability and space for me to explore.”
The accompanying music video was directed by photographer and filmmaker Georges Antoni.
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The EP arrives as Arena celebrates 50 years in the entertainment industry, having first appeared on Australian television as a child performer on Young Talent Time.
Her career will also be examined in the forthcoming feature documentary Tina Arena: Unravel Me, which premieres at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 12th, before opening in cinemas nationwide on August 27th.
Produced by Helium Pictures, the documentary combines archival footage with new interviews exploring Arena’s public career and private life. Contributors include her sisters, mentor Johnny Young and artists Celine Dion, Ronan Keating, Marc Anthony, Desmond Child and Jessica Mauboy.
Written and produced by Jess Carrera, the film was directed by Adrian Russell Wills and executive produced by Mark Fennessy and Arena herself.
Tina Arena has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide and received 25 ARIA Award nominations, winning seven, including the Album of the Year award for Don’t Ask. She was also inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2015.
Way of the World will be released on October 16th. “True Faith” is streaming now.
