Photo: Presley Ann/FilmMagic

Carly Rae Jepsen

Carly Rae Jepsenis letting the wind carry her out west as she prepares for a comeback.

On Wednesday, the “Party For One” singer reposted fan photos of a billboard teasing something titled “Western Wind” alongside a phone number, which connects callers with a message from Jepsen confirming new music is on the way.

To accompany the teaser and cheeky voicemail message, Jepsen updated her profile photos across social media and posted a new promotional image of herself on Instagram along with the caption, “First bloom…”

The “Western Wind” teaser arrived two days after Jepsen posted a map of California to her social media platforms on April 4 alongside the caption, “x marks the spot.” Highlighting locations including Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park, and Coachella, the map features mysterious phrases including “California, it crossed my mind…,” “Coming in like a western wind,” “Reminding me love that it’s all connected,” “A celebration, a jubilation,” and “Do you feel home in all directions?”

The California map is quite timely, as the “Run Away with Me” performer is currently gearing up to perform at the2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festivalon April 15. If “Western Wind” is the title of a forthcoming single or album, it’ll mark Jepsen’s first release since 2020’s one-off single “Me and the Boys in the Band” and her most recent full-length project,Dedicated Side B, which dropped the same year.

“‘Call Me Maybe’ was like a lightning bolt to my little life,” the musician wrote before recalling a time when she worked as a waitress and overheard customers making fun of her 2008 song, “Tug of War.” “A direct quote I overheard was something like, ‘This girl Carly Rae Jepsen was on repeat over and over our whole trip and we are so sick of it.’ Some of them sang the song in a mocking voice, oblivious to the fact that I was serving them food.”

Despite getting mocked, Jepsen explained she was simply excited the patrons knew her music and decided to leave a note on their receipt thanking them for listening. “Their jaws dropped, we had a laugh, and I may have received a slightly bigger tip than usual,” she continued. “The point is, don’t give up on your dreams, kids. Not three months later ‘Call Me Maybe’ was released and let’s just say I hope that song really annoyed them. Hehe.”

source: people.com