In the heart of Akron, Ohio, where rust belt charm meets gritty determination, the Black Keys have forged their path to fame and fortune. Now, with their twelfth studio album, Ohio Players, the duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney add another gem to their rock n’ roll crown. Made with longtime friends Dan “The Automator” Nakamura and Beck, the new album is a celebration of music and camaraderie.

Tracks like the exuberant "Beautiful People (Stay High)" are pushed to their highest with help from friends like Noel Gallagher and Greg Kurstin. Speaking on the album's collaborative nature, Carney reflects, "We had this epiphany: ‘We can call our friends to help us make music.’ It's funny because we both write songs with other people – Dan all the time [as a solo artist and producer], me when I'm producing a record. That’s what we do." Auerbach adds to the sentiment, emphasizing that every collaboration enriches rather than dilutes their essence. "No matter who we work with, it never feels like we're sacrificing who we are. It only feels like it adds some special flavor. We just expanded that palette with people we wanted to work with."

Yet, amidst the creative camaraderie, the original essence of the Black Keys remains intact. "When it came time to finish the album, it was just Pat and me," Auerbach emphasizes. This dedication to their craft led to an album that demanded more from them than ever before. "We'd never worked harder to make a record," he admits. "It's never taken us this long to make an album. We took our time and did it right." Carney echoes this sentiment, noting the band's desire to create something both fun and enduring. "What we wanted to accomplish with this record was make something that was fun," he says. "And something that most bands 20 years into their career don’t make, which is an approachable, fun record that is also cool."

The title Ohio Players pays homage to the funk legends of Dayton, OH, infusing its spirit into every groove and riff. But the inspiration didn't stop there. The Black Keys, during their creative process, found themselves DJing parties across the globe, spinning vinyl from their own collections and soaking in the energy given back to them. These "record hangs," as they called them, seeped into the DNA of Ohio Players, infusing it with a noticeable vitality.