An American Idol fan-favorite from back in the day has just announced he is releasing his first new album in eight years.
Paul McDonald, who competed on American Idol season 10 alongside Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Haley Reinhart, James Durbin, Casey Abrams and Pia Toscano, announced the release of his new album on Monday, May 19.
The album is called So Long to the Dark Side, and it drops on July 18; its third single, “Unwind,” dropped on May 19, following on the heels of the first two singles, “Dark Side” and “What’s The Point?”
McDonald describes “Unwind” as a “feel-good track, born from a moment of nostalgia.” It was co-written with former Grand Magnolias bandmate Jonathan Pears.
“This song emerged spontaneously during a late-night jam session with my old bandmate from The Grand Magnolias, Jonathan Pears,” says McDonald in a statement. “We hadn’t written together in over a decade, but that night, we picked up our guitars and somehow the magic fell out of the sky. We finished up the song a few days later with our buddy Hailey Steele. The song is a simple feel-good track, kind of born from a moment of nostalgia, but reflects on the free-spirited journey of my college band days. It eventually evolves into a reminder to slow down, let go, and be present.”
To promote the new album, McDonald is going on tour this summer. Get the details here, the dates and locations are as follows:
June 7: Cathead Jam 2025 – Jackson, MS
June 13: Grants Lounge – Macon, GA
June 14: 185 King Street – Brevard, NC
June 26: Songbirds – Chattanooga, TN
June 27: Steel Hands Brewing – Cayce, SC
July 2: Jammin Java – Vienna, VA
July 3: American Music Festival 2025 – Berwyn, IL
July 5: Turntable – Indianapolis, IN
July 17: Skinny Dennis – Nashville, TN
July 24: Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side – Denver, CO
Nov 9: Venue Shrine – Tulsa, OK
Nov 30: Nashbash – Miami Beach Bandshell – Miami Beach, FL
In the press release, McDonald talks about how he has written so many songs since his last album eight years ago, but he has “shelved them all” because he was “burned out and broke after chasing an elusive sound through countless sessions.”
But with this new album alongside his new band, The Mourning Doves, he found his new sound.
“This album helped me heal,” said McDonald. “It brought me back to life. It’s not perfect, and that’s the point. It’s raw and human and alive. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
