Background
Following the release of her fifth studio album, The Human Demands (2020), Macdonald blamed the rise of streaming music as a contributing factor in her facing difficulties in having "people listen to the album". She subsequently took a break from recording new music for roughly four years. [2] On 5 October 2024, Macdonald posted on her official Instagram that she was about the beginning recording what would become her sixth studio album. [1] During the recording sessions, Macdonald sporadically uploaded a number of daily vlogs documenting her progress on the album in both London and Germany. [3]
In April 2025, she released the lead single from the album, titled "Is This What You've Been Waiting For?", and later revealed that the album would also be titled Is This What You've Been Waiting For?. In an interview, she revealed that the single was written in response to the rise in music demand as a result of streaming services, saying that fans seem to "demand new music more often" [4] as a result, and that the song was "my view on how people always expect more music and social media content". [4] She further claimed she took inspiration from the opening of The Sphere in Las Vegas, saying that she "woke up one day and saw all of these videos of it, and I thought, this is incredible", [4] before adding "really inspired me and made me think about how music is for me, and gigs have always been the most important part". [4]
The single was said to "blend emotional depth with an urgent sense of forward motion", but having "connection and care". Music Talkers said that the song "is a reflection of where Amy is now – confident in her craft, rooted in gratitude, and still playing to sold-out crowds". [4] It received its debut radio play on the Scott Mills breakfast show on BBC Radio 2. [5] Afterwards, Macdonald said that, despite having been recording and releasing music "for eighteen years", [6] hearing her songs on the radio "will never feel normal". [6]
Release
The album was released on 11 July 2025 through a collaborative effort by both BMG and Infectious Music. [9] To promote the release of both the lead single and album, on 25 April 2025, Macdonald performed a "surprise" free pop up gig at Prince's Square in her home city of Glasgow. She said that the gig "was the most random thing I think I’ve ever done", but "ended up really good". [10] In April 2025, she confirmed an upcoming tour to support the release of the album. The tour officially commences on 24 May 2025, with the first performance taking place in Warrington at the Neighbourhood Weekender Festival, and will run until February 2026. [4]
The albums lead single debuted at number 40 on the official UK Singles Downloads Chart on 2 May 2025. It subsequently debuted at number 41 on the official UK Singles Sales Chart on the same day. [11]
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