Great White is officially ready to turn the page to a new creative chapter. Guitarist and founding member Mark Kendall has confirmed that the band is currently scouting recording studios to begin work on their first batch of new music featuring vocalist Brett Carlisle.
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Carlisle, who joined the multi-platinum rock outfit in October 2022, is the band's first permanent studio vocalist since the departure of Terry Ilous and the brief tenures of Mitch Malloy and Andrew Freeman. While the band has been touring steadily with Carlisle for over a year, this move marks their first foray into the studio since 2017’s Full Circle.
A New Strategy for a New Era In an interview with the Thunder Underground podcast, Kendall revealed that the band is leaning toward a modern release strategy. Rather than laboring over a full-length album for months, Great White plans to record and release music one track at a time.
"We’re looking into studios right now," Kendall said. "We’re thinking about doing one song at a time... and just putting out a video of one song, because it’s going to be free. The days of selling millions of records are over."
Kendall emphasized that this approach keeps the process "fun" and allows the band to maintain a steady stream of content for fans while ensuring Carlisle is no longer seen as just a "replacement" singer. "To get him on new music, I think it’ll be fun for the fans and us," he added.
Returning to Their Roots Describing the musical direction of the new material, Kendall teased a sound that bridges the gap between the band’s raw 1984 self-titled debut and the polished, melodic hard rock of 1987’s Once Bitten.
Fans can expect a mix of high-energy rockers, mid-tempo tracks in the vein of Foreigner, and bluesy ballads. Kendall clarified that the new ballads are "real blues with killer hooks" rather than "sappy" tracks, designed to showcase the full range of Carlisle’s voice.
The "American Idol" Connection The news of the studio sessions comes on the heels of Carlisle’s successful audition for American Idol, which aired in February 2026. Performing Great White's "House of Broken Love" with Kendall and keyboardist Michael Lardie, Carlisle earned a "Golden Ticket" to Hollywood. Judges Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood were highly impressed, with Richie calling the 28-year-old a potential "poster child" for rock on the show.
Despite the significant age gap between Carlisle and the veteran rockers—some of whom have been in the band for four decades—the chemistry appears seamless. Kendall dismissed any concerns about the age difference, noting that Carlisle is an "old soul" who fits right in.
"Nothing overwhelms the guy," Kendall said. "He sings perfect all the time, and he’s got really good song sense for a young man."
While no official release dates have been set due to the band’s busy touring schedule and the geographical distance between members, the message from the Great White camp is clear: new music is finally on the horizon.
