Alex Warren Drops Album "WILDCHILD" feat. Nile Rodgers, John Mayer

Alex Warren released his sophomore album WILDCHILD on August 28, 2026, via Atlantic Records, alongside a music video for the album's focus single "Emerald Eyes." The 13-track LP features guest appearances from Nile Rodgers and John Mayer.

What Is on the WILDCHILD Album and Who Made It

Warren wrote WILDCHILD during 2025 and 2026, working with collaborators Adam Yaron, Cal Shapiro, and Mags Duval across sessions in Nashville, TN and Los Angeles, CA. Recording took place at Alex's home studio, Gnome Recording Studios, Gold Pacific Studios, and Woodshed Recording Studios.

The full track list is:

1. Same Stars 2. Passenger 3. Rescuer 4. Cry Wolf 5. Fine Place to Die 6. Are You Having Fun, Alex? 7. I Miss You More 8. Only Thing Left 9. Fever Dream 10. Won't Go Back 11. Last Time 12. Emerald Eyes 13. Wildchild

Nile Rodgers, the guitarist and producer best known for his work with Chic and his collaborations with David Bowie, Daft Punk, and Madonna, contributes guitar on "Emerald Eyes." John Mayer, the Grammy-winning guitarist and singer-songwriter, plays a closing guitar solo on the title track "Wildchild."

Warren describes "Emerald Eyes" as a dance-driven love song with a early-2000s club feel and what he calls an "ethereal hippie vibe" on the bridge. "Nile elevated it to another level altogether," he says.

The album's closing title track starts with acoustic guitar and choir harmonies before leading into Mayer's solo. A voice memo of Warren's late father asking "Are you having fun, Alex?" precedes the instrumental. Warren shared the personal weight behind the song: "'Wildchild' was difficult for me because my dad and I never had closure. I was nine years old, and I didn't get to say goodbye. 'Wildchild' was written from his perspective. It was my way to get closure and hear him say that he's proud of me."

The album's title comes from a nickname Warren's father gave him as a child. "Growing up, I was always climbing, doing backflips, and jumping off things, so my dad referred to me as 'Wildchild,'" Warren said. "When I was writing this body of work, I would often think of my parents. My dad knew he was dying, so he filmed this series of videos where he's talking to me. On the first album, you were learning about who I was. This album teaches you who my parents were and who I am now."

Where Alex Warren Is Touring and How WILDCHILD Connects to His Catalog

Warren is currently on his Finding Family On The Road Tour, described in the release as a sold-out world arena tour. Dates in Australia are underway as of the album's release date. No specific venue or city details beyond Australia were provided in the release. Check back at [our events page](/events) as additional dates are confirmed.

WILDCHILD follows Warren's debut LP You'll Be Alright, which according to the release debuted in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200. That album included "Ordinary," a collaboration-heavy project with features from Jelly Roll, ROSÉ, and Joe Jonas. The release states "Fever Dream," one of the tracks from the new album or its campaign, has reached 500 million streams, though the release does not specify the exact timeframe or platform. "Ordinary" is described in the release as a 7x-Platinum single that held the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks and on the UK Songs Chart for 13 weeks, ending 2025 as what the release calls "the top-selling song of 2025."

Warren is a Southern California artist signed to Atlantic Records. He has performed at the American Music Awards, the MTV VMAs, and the Grammy Awards, and has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, according to the release.

WILDCHILD is available now on all major streaming platforms. The music video for "Emerald Eyes" is out now.

What Independent Artists Can Take From the WILDCHILD Campaign

Warren recorded this album partly at his own home studio, working with a small, consistent group of collaborators across multiple sessions rather than assembling a rotating cast of producers. The album has a clear emotional through line tied to his family story, which gives every press moment something concrete to anchor to beyond the music itself. If you are building your own project, that combination, a home base for recording, trusted collaborators, and a personal narrative you actually own, is a replicable foundation regardless of budget.

If you are an independent artist looking to submit your own project for coverage, [head to our submissions page](/submit).