With a new album arriving Monday via Jay Z's new music-streaming company Tidal, Prince is going to throw an old-fashion three-night marathon party at his Paisley Park studio complex in Chanhassen this weekend.
News of the "international dance party" arrived this morning via Prince's official Twitter account, @Prince3EG. The tweet includes a virtual poster for the party that lists a 9:30 p.m. start time and a $40 cover Friday through Sunday at his compound. "Live music" is all that's promised, not necessarily a performance Prince himself. Usually when tickets are priced that much, though, it means the little man has big plans.
The ad (posted below) also states that the reason for the event is "2 celebrate the global release of Prince's new music." Titled "HITNRUN," the album was co-produced with Joshua Welton, who also helped with one of Prince's 2014 albums, "Art Official Age," and is the husband of drummer Hannah Welton from Prince's band 3rdEyeGirl.
Only Tidal subscribers will be able to hear the new album come Monday. Membership starts at $9.99 per month. Prince is already featured on the front page of Tidal's site leading up to Monday's release. The record has not yet been made available to music critics, and so far the public has only heard the recent, guitar-cranking viral single "HARDROCKLOVER."
Joshua Welton, who's only 25, said this about the album to Entertainment Weekly: "I would say it's an experimental Prince record for fans who just don't care about him sounding like a certain thing. I know he has different types of fan bases and this is kind of for the [hardcore] Purple Collective, the ones who say 'I don't care what he puts out! I love Prince.' And because he's such a creative, it gives him that freedom to say, 'I just want to make music like this today.'"
Always one to also search for freedom on the business side of things, Prince said this about his decision to issue the record via Tidal, which is touting itself as an artist-driven answer to the slumping recording industry:
"After one meeting, it was obvious that Jay Z and the team he has assembled at TIDAL recognize and applaud the effort that real musicians put in2 their craft 2 achieve the very best they can at this pivotal time in the music industry. TIDAL have honored Us with a non-restrictive arrangement that once again allows Us to continue making art in the fashion We've grown accustomed 2 and We're Extremely grateful 4 their generous support."
Paisley Park is about a 25-minute drive from downtown Minneapolis at 7847 Audubon Rd. (Hwy. 5) in Chanhassen. Events there are always alcohol- and cell-phone-free, and tickets are first-come, first-served at the door.
