Pop’s reigning disco queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor has unveiled her eighth studio album, Perimenopop, out today via Decca Records. The record, described by Ellis-Bextor as a “celebratory soundtrack for mid-life happiness,” sees the British star embrace bold, sparkling pop while honouring the shimmering disco aesthetic that has defined much of her 25-year career.

This morning, Ellis-Bextor became the first artist in nearly a decade to launch an album live on QVC UK, following in the footsteps of Dolly Parton, Celine Dion and Melanie C. “I’ve always wanted to be on QVC,” she said. “Happily, it’s becoming a reality.” The special broadcast featured live performances, behind-the-scenes stories, and an exclusive album format for fans.

The project reunites Ellis-Bextor with long-time collaborators Biff Stannard, Hannah Robinson and Ed Harcourt, while also introducing fresh partnerships with Nile Rodgers, Sigrid and MNEK. The new single “Stay on Me”—a disco-fueled anthem written alongside Kid Harpoon, Selena Gomez, Caroline Ailin and Julia Michaels—arrives with a lush video shot in southwest Ireland by acclaimed cinematographer Robbie Ryan and director Sophie Muller, marking their 19th collaboration.

Ellis-Bextor describes the single as “a celebration of being with your person and knowing—they only have eyes for you. It’s romantic, a little flirtatious, and full of joy.”

As we put it while listening through the record, “Perimenopop is Ellis-Bextor at her most confident—radiant disco for grown-up dreamers that proves pop doesn’t just survive mid-life, it thrives there.”

The album includes fan favorites “Freedom of the Night,” “Relentless Love,” “Vertigo,” “Taste,” and “Dolce Vita.” Its release follows a remarkable resurgence of her 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor,” which returned to the UK Top 2 and Billboard Top 100 after its prominent feature in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn.

Ellis-Bextor is currently midway through an intimate UK record store tour before embarking on a major European and North American headline run this autumn, including a sold-out Royal Albert Hall date and appearances in Milan, Paris, Los Angeles, Toronto and New York.

With five Top 10 albums, eight Top 10 singles, and a recent Nordoff and Robbins O2 Silver Clef Award for Best Female under her belt, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Perimenopop reaffirms her status as one of Britain’s most enduring and inventive pop artists—reminding us all that the disco ball spins just as brightly at mid-life.

Perimenopop is Ellis-Bextor at her most confident—radiant disco for grown-up dreamers that proves pop doesn’t just survive mid-life, it thrives there.

The full tracklisting is as follows:

1. Relentless Love
2. Vertigo
3. Taste
4. Stay on Me
5. Dolce Vita
6. Time
7. Glamorous
8. Freedom of the Night
9. Layers
10. Diamond in the Dark
11. Heart Sing
12. Don’t Know What You’ve Got Until It’s Gone

Record Store Tour:
September:
Friday 12^th – Oxford, O2 Academy2, Truck Store**
Saturday 13^th – London, Oxford Street, HMV*
Sunday 14^th – Birmingham, The Vault, HMV*
Sunday 14^th – Nantwich, Applestump*
Monday 15^th – Brighton, Chalk, HMV**
Tuesday 16^th – Kingston, Circuit, Banquet**
Thursday 18^th – Ediburgh, Assai
Thursday 18^th – Glasgow, SWG3
October:
Thursday 16^th - Coventry, Empire, HMV** (revised date)
 
*Signing Events (Q&A - Oxford Street only)
**Performances
Tickets are available here.
 
Headline Tour:
 
September:
Mon 22^nd – Milan – Santeria Toscana
Tues 23^rd – Zurich – Dynamo
Thurs 25^th – Paris – Salle Pleyel
Fri 26^th – Amsterdam – Paradiso
Sat 27^th – Nijmegen – Dornroosje
Mon 29^th – Brussels – Ancienne Belgique
Tues 30^th – Cologne – Live Music Hall
 
October:
Wed 1^st – Hamburg – Mojo Club
Fri 3^rd – Copenhagen – Poolen
Sat 4^th – Stockholm – Kägelbanan 
Sun 5^th – Oslo – Sentrum Scene
Tues 7^th – Berlin – Astra Kulturhaus
Thurs 9^th – Warsaw – Progresja 
Mon 27^th – Los Angeles – The Regent Theater
Tues 28^th – San Francisco – August Hall
Thurs 30^th – Vancouver – Commodore Ballroom
 
November:
Mon 3^rd – Toronto – Danforth Music Hall
Tues 4^th – New York – Webster Hall

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.