Having mastered the fine art of the romantic ballad, Richard Marx may surprise fans with his new CD Beautiful Goodbye.

In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, he tells the mag the inspiration behind his new music was sexual seduction!

“If you put this album on, you’re going to get horny. That’s all there is to it,” he reveals to Closer with a laugh, adding the new record was partly “influenced by Latin and Brazilian music that I was listening to a lot this past year. It was all very sexy and sensual to me. When I was putting this CD together, I found myself writing about seduction.”

richard marx

That could all come in handy, as the 50-year-old father-of-three is single for the first time in 25 years, having announced his split from wife Cynthia Rhodes in April.

“I didn’t want to write about my divorce,” Richard reveals to Closer. “Yes, it’s been a painful, sad time, but it’s also become a time about discovery, excitement and newness. I wanted to write songs from a more realistic point of view.”

He continues, “The truth is relationships can be absolutely euphoric, but they don’t have to be forever. That’s what these songs are about: two people connecting in a beautiful, sexy way.”

For more about the inspiration behind the new album and Richard’s reflection on past career milestones, pick up the new issue of Closer Weekly, on stands now!