Leon Bridges is returning with new music this fall, announcing that his fifth studio album, “Happiness Anytime,” will arrive Sept. 25 through Columbia Records while offering fans an early preview with four new songs released Friday.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter unveiled “Light The Way,” “Tears of Joy,” “Illusion” and “Your Love Is Electric,” the first installment of music from the 12-track album. Produced by J Lloyd-Watson and Lydia Kitto of British trio Jungle, the project marks a stylistic shift toward groove-oriented songs that Bridges said were inspired by a desire to rediscover movement in his performances.

“For me, happiness is not a feeling that you chase,” Bridges said. “I want this album to be something that lingers with people and lingers in people’s bones. There’s this feeling that we have to fix the problems of the world; you feel inadequate or it can be debilitating. My role is to be light. I hope that comes across with this album.”

According to Bridges, “Happiness Anytime” was created with dancing and live performance in mind after he realized that element had become less prominent in recent years.

He has also introduced a new concert production, “Leon Bridges Presents Happiness Anytime,” featuring a vinyl DJ, horn section and three backing vocalists, with Bridges returning to center stage as a dancer. The performances draw inspiration from the communal spirit of Jamaican dance hall culture and reflect the album’s emphasis on rhythm and movement.

The album was recorded during three studio sessions with Lloyd-Watson and Kitto after the musicians crossed paths at festivals over several years. What began as an informal songwriting experiment quickly turned into a full-length project.

After just four days in the studio, the collaborators had completed six songs, half of the album. Bassist Pino Palladino later joined the sessions at Chaplin Recording Studios in Los Angeles to help complete the record.

The collaboration blends Bridges’ soulful vocals with Jungle’s groove-based production, while drawing inspiration from artists including Fela Kuti, Jorge Ben and Paul Simon’s “The Rhythm of the Saints.” Rather than recreating those influences, the album combines them into a sound that remains rooted in Bridges’ style.

Over the past month, Bridges has introduced the new material through pop-up performances in Paris, Cannes, Los Angeles, the Montreux Jazz Festival and London’s Jazz Cafe.

Born in Atlanta and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Bridges first broke through with his platinum-certified debut album, “Coming Home,” before earning Grammy recognition for “Good Thing” and “Gold-Diggers Sound.” He released his fourth solo album, “Leon,” in 2024 and has also collaborated with Khruangbin on “Texas Sun” and “Texas Moon.”

Across his career, Bridges has earned six Grammy nominations and one Grammy Award while collaborating with artists including John Mayer, Kacey Musgraves, Robert Glasper and Shaboozey.

“Happiness Anytime” is scheduled for release Sept. 25. The album will feature 12 tracks, with the four newly released songs serving as the first preview of the project.