When iconic singer/songwriter Michael Bolton began writing songs for Spark of Light during the COVID-19 pandemic, he considered it his mission to create something beautiful to put out into the world, writes Billboard magazine.

"We're all so humanly connected; we're so in need of some light," Bolton says. "That became the working theme every day: ‘How do we make [the music] make other people feel better?'"

From the bouncy title track to current single, the inspirational "Beautiful World" ( featuring Justin Jesso ), finger snapping "Just the Beginning" and wistful "We Could Be Something," the album contains some of Bolton's most uplifting tunes with the tenor's instantly recognizable muscular vocals juxtaposed against contemporary production.

Celebrating his 50th year of making music, Bolton found himself completely revitalized while making his first album of original material in 14 years, his first since 2009's One World One Love. Not that Bolton has been dormant: he's released five sets in between, including a tribute to the songs of Motown, a collection of duets and a reinvention of his biggest hits with a symphony orchestra.