Melissa Etheridge in her studio
Melissa Etheridge

Award-winning singer, songwriter and activist Melissa Etheridge releases the video for “For The Last Time”, the second single off her upcoming album.

The song is one of nine tracks featured on the singer’s new album – One Way Out – to be released on September 17, 2021, via BMG. “For The Last Time” follows the release of the first single and album’s title track that hit DSP on May 25. Both songs are part of a collection of music written by Melissa in the late 80s, and early 90’s that either wasn’t suitable for a particular project at the time or material she just never felt comfortable releasing….until now, that is.

“Finally recording and releasing a song about my frustrations with my relationship in the 90’s is very cathartic for me. That ‘For The Last Time’ rocks so hard is just the icing on the cake.”

Etheridge stumbled upon these decades-old songs/demos years ago while gathering materials for a retrospective box set.

As she went through the songs, it brought her back to the start of her career and how they just weren’t suitable for that particular time or album. Some of the tracks were written before she had even come out, and I never felt comfortable releasing them but knew they would be perfect for the box set. In 2013, the singer returned to Henson Studios in Los Angeles with her original band (Fritz Lewak, John Shanks, Kevin McCormick) and would give these songs a new life.

Shortly after she finished the records, she would part ways with her label, and the box set was shelved. Melissa would begin working on new material, and those songs were again set aside. That is, until 2020 when she sorted through old files to share with fans on Etheridge TV’s Friday Night Time Machine show.

The time was finally right. Fans will finally get a deeper glimpse of Melissa’s identity when she releases One Way Out this fall.