Dance in the Rain is the fourth studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Ricki-Lee Coulter, released on 17 October 2014 by EMI Music Australia. Coulter began working on Dance in the Rain shortly after the completion of her previous album Fear & Freedom (2012). Recording and production took place in various places around the world over two years. Coulter was the executive producer of the album and collaborated with many songwriters, including Brian Kierulf, Brian Lee, David Schuler, Ilan Kidron, Stuart Crichton, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers. Musically, Dance in the Rain incorporates styles of pop, dance, R&B and reggae.
The release of Dance in the Rain coincided with Coulter's appearance as a celebrity contestant on the fourteenth season of Dancing with the Stars Australia. The album debuted at number 14 on the ARIA Albums Chart and became Coulter's second top-twenty album. It was preceded by its first two singles "All We Need Is Love" and "Happy Ever After". The former peaked within the top-forty of the ARIA Singles Chart, while the latter only reached the top-seventy.
Background and development
Dance in the Rain is the follow-up to Coulter's third studio album Fear & Freedom (2012), which debuted at number seven on the ARIA Albums Chart and became her first top-ten album. Coulter began working on Dance in the Rain shortly after the completion of Fear & Freedom. As executive producer of Dance in the Rain, Coulter had full control over the songwriters and producers she wanted to work with. She also spent her own money to travel overseas to write and record material for the album. Coulter intended for Dance in the Rain to be an honest album and wanted to avoid following a certain sound and concept. She worked on it for two years in various places around the world, including Bali, Brisbane, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Nashville, New York City, Paris, Sweden and Sydney. Stuart Crichton co-produced a majority of the album's songs alongside Coulter. Speaking of the inspiration behind Dance in the Rain, Coulter stated: "Life throws so much at you and I write about it all ... I figured I had a lot to say and there were so many things I wanted to express – and I managed to pull it all together for this one album."
Music and lyrics
Musically, Dance in the Rain consists of pop, dance, R&B and reggae styles. The album opens with the title track "Dance in the Rain", which was described by Subculture Media as "dramatic and self-affirming". The second single and second song "Happy Ever After" is based on Coulter's relationship with her fiancé Rich Harrison. The album's first single and third track "All We Need Is Love" is a pop and dance song about encouraging people to support one another and spread love. The fourth track "In the Mood" was described by Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun as "anthemic and athletic". The third single and fifth track "Giddyup" is an R&B and pop song, with synth stabs, claps, and electro beats. Adams noted that "Giddyup" sees Coulter channeling "her inner Beyoncé", while Subculture Media noted that it features "some assertive and intoxicating sass throughout". Nic Kelly of Project U compared the song's production to Coulter's 2007 single "Can't Touch It", while Adams called it "the new 'Can't Touch It'".
The album's sixth track "Criminal" is a reggae-pop song that features Barbadian recording artist Shane Free and was co-written by Coulter, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers. The ninth track "Until We Drop" is a "club-ready" song that features dubstep stabs. Subculture Media described the tenth song "Diva" as "bangin' club-ready", while Adams viewed it as a "high energy" song "tailor-made for a sweaty gay club". Adams also noted that the "pace slows" on the twelfth track on Dance in the Rain, titled "Catch Me If You Can", which he described as "William Orbit-esque". The thirteenth track "Mirage" is an "emotive ballad" that was co-written by Coulter and Harrison. Adams noted that the ballad features "a torrent of honest lyrics and tangible pain".