Brian Newman, Frequent Lady Gaga Collaborator, Releases New Single ‘The Boulevard of Broken Dreams’

Brian Newman, a Grammy-winning musician and frequent collaborator with Lady Gaga, has unveiled his debut single, “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” This marks the first release from his forthcoming album. Newman, who serves as a trumpeter, producer, musical director, and bandleader for Gaga’s Jazz and Piano show, discovered the 1933 composition—originally penned by Al Dubin—through the interpretations of Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole.

In an interview with Variety, Newman shared his long-standing connection to the track. “I’ve been singing this song live for years and have always wanted to record it,” he explained. He described it as “a tragically beautiful dance of the downtrodden; a cautionary tale that warns of a place we can all end up if we aren’t careful.” Newman emphasized his aim to deliver “a gentler presentation of the song, with an easy rhythm that just flowed, telling the story of faded glory.” His third album, “Songs for Lonely Lovers,” is scheduled for release on June 12. The project, he noted, is designed to “showcase the deeper side of the Great American Songbook, featuring songs that reach farther into love struggles, feelings of loneliness and those ‘last call’ nights.” Interestingly, Newman finds joy in performing these melancholic tunes. “I guess it’s just the piece of me that knows what it’s like to feel like the world’s against you, and you’ve got nothing to lose, but to prove to yourself that you can overcome what life dishes out,” he added. The album leans into tracks that explore themes of struggle and resilience.

To mark the album’s launch, Newman will perform at The Box in New York. His recent appearances include a stint at the iconic Cafe Carlyle in Manhattan, a venue known for hosting legendary jazz acts like Woody Allen and Elaine Stritch. Newman and his band previously recorded orchestrations for Gaga’s “Harlequin” album and contributed to the soundtrack for the film “Joker 2: Folie A Deux.” “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is now available on all streaming platforms via Joy Machine Records. Fans can stream the track below.