Katie Cole sets September release for sophomore album 'Forest'

Katie Cole will release her 10-track sophomore studio album, Forest, on Sept. 24, 2026, through an independent release. The record blends folk, Americana and orchestral arrangements as Cole turns personal grief and post-lockdown change into her most ambitious project yet.

Why it matters: - Forest marks Katie Cole’s sophomore studio album and a clear step up in scope, with orchestral arrangements layered onto her Americana and storytelling roots. - The album’s themes of grief, love, loss and recovery give the project personal weight, tying the record to major life changes after the COVID lockdown and the death of Cole’s mother in 2024. - The release also extends Cole’s profile beyond her solo work, building on touring, orchestra performances and her long-running connection to The Smashing Pumpkins.

What happened: - Katie Cole will release Forest on Sept. 24, 2026, as a 10-track album through an independent release. - The album was recorded over two years in Nashville and centered at Blackbird Studios. - Cole worked with Grammy-winning producer Howard Willing and string arranger Tim Lauer on the record. - The album includes singles “Always Do” and “Learning How To Lose,” plus the tracks “Love Is A Liar,” “Saturn” and “Forest.” - Preorder and listen here. - Cole’s official website is here, and her Spotify artist page is here.

The details: - Forest expands Cole’s earlier sound with lush orchestral arrangements, strings, horns and woodwinds. - The album draws on folk and Americana storytelling while reflecting on the aftermath of the COVID lockdown. - Cole wrote about anxiety, love, heartache and grief across the record. - The opener “Always Do” sets the tone around uncertainty in relationships and emotion. - “Love Is A Liar” focuses on hope after the death of Cole’s mother. - Singles “Always Do” and “Learning How To Lose” have received radio play across North America. - Bluegrass Situation praised the video for “Saturn,” calling the song “tantalizingly rootsy” with “folk and Americana instrumentation and lush strings.” - The album tracklist is: “Always Do,” “Little Too Late,” “I Can Close My Eyes,” “Learning How To Lose,” “Love Is A Liar,” “Forest,” “Somewhere I’ve Never Been,” “Blue,” “Saturn” and “You Can Never Go Home Again.” - Vinyl and CDs will be sold through Cole’s website.

Between the lines: - Forest appears designed as a career statement, not just a follow-up, with classic pop orchestration and a broader sonic palette than Cole’s prior work. - Cole’s collaboration with Howard Willing and Tim Lauer signals a more polished studio approach while keeping the songwriting personal. - Her recent touring with The Smashing Pumpkins and an orchestra suggests Cole is using live performance to widen her audience ahead of the album rollout. - Cole has also won “Best Singer-songwriter” at the Nashville Scene Best of Nashville awards and was nominated for “Love is a Liar” at the Hollywood Independent Music awards. - Cole has continued to build her audience through festivals including NAMM and SXSW.

What's next: - Cole will appear on Today in Nashville on WSMV on Sept. 11. - She will perform a live radio show on Nov. 6 at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville with support from WMOT 89.5FM Nashville. - More tour dates will be announced. - Cole is slated to continue touring with a large orchestra performing music from Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit during winter 2026/27.

The bottom line: - Forest is Katie Cole’s most expansive release to date, built to turn a deeply personal story into a larger orchestral statement.