There is no deadline on dreams. Patti Zlaket has said as much, and Dance Again, her first new album in twenty years, is the proof. Released June 5, 2026 on Meridian via ECR Music Group, it caps one of the more genuinely heartwarming comeback stories in recent music.
The backstory is remarkable. A pianist since the age of seven and a songwriter since her teens in Tucson, Arizona, Zlaket graduated from USC with a theatre degree, built a career as a sought-after commercial singer, released a respected catalog, and earned a law degree along the way. After two decades without new material, a single act of gratitude changed everything: she reached out to legendary bassist Lee Sklar, whose playing anchors records by Phil Collins, James Taylor, and Linda Ronstadt, simply to thank him for his work. He responded. She asked if he would listen to a new song. He liked what he heard. That exchange grew into a year of recording with Sklar, producer Tariqh Akoni, whose credits include Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, and Weezer, and a roster of A-list session players including drummer Herman Matthews.
The Album
Dance Again runs eight tracks, opening with Clock Keeps Tickin’ and closing with This Is Me, with the title track, I’ve Got You, Let’s Move On, Second Chance At Life, Someone To Lay Down Beside Me, and Love Is For You in between. The songs sit in pop-rock territory shaped by Zlaket’s classic rock foundations, with her voice at the center of every arrangement and Sklar’s bass running through the whole record.
Love Is For You, released as a single in March 2026, earned a spot on Apple Music’s New In Rock global playlist alongside new tracks by Foo Fighters, Peter Gabriel, and Ringo Starr, a striking placement for an independent artist twenty years removed from her last release. The track features guest vocalist Robbie Wyckoff, whose credits include touring as the lead male vocalist on Roger Waters’ The Wall Live.
Final Thoughts
The best comeback records are not about recapturing the past. They are about proving the creative voice never left. Dance Again is exactly that: a seasoned artist, a world-class band assembled through one genuine human connection, and eight songs two decades in the making. It is living proof of Zlaket’s own philosophy, that it is never too late to chase the thing you love, and it is well worth hearing for yourself.
Dance Again is out now on Meridian (ECR Music Group). Released June 5, 2026. Produced by Tariqh Akoni. Learn more at Patti Zlaket’s official page and stream on Spotify.
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