The track is 'Home Again', covered by Lucy Dacus
IKEA's 2026 global advert titled 'Coming Home' features a cover of 'Home Again', originally by Carole King. American indie-rock artist Lucy Dacus performs this version. The campaign was developed by IKEA's in-house creative team working with McCann, and it centres on the emotional pull of returning home after time away.
Where you can listen to the track
Lucy Dacus's cover of 'Home Again' is available on major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. The original Carole King version appears on her 1971 album Tapestry, which remains widely available across all streaming services. Both versions offer different interpretations: King's original has a warm, piano-led folk sound, while Dacus brings a more stripped-back, indie sensibility to the recording.
Campaign background and creative direction
Director Justyna Obasi helmed the 'Coming Home' film, which marks a shift in IKEA's advertising strategy. Rather than showcasing individual products or room setups, this campaign explores the abstract concept of home as an emotional anchor. The advert follows multiple characters in different life stages, all experiencing that specific moment of relief when they step through their front door.
This approach reflects IKEA's broader 2026 marketing direction, which prioritises storytelling over product catalogues. The choice of 'Home Again' supports this narrative focus, as the song's lyrics speak directly to the comfort and security we associate with familiar spaces.
About Lucy Dacus
Lucy Dacus is a Richmond, Virginia-based singer-songwriter who has released three solo studio albums since 2016. Her work is characterised by introspective lyrics and a distinctive vocal delivery that sits somewhere between folk and alternative rock. Beyond her solo career, Dacus is one-third of Boygenius, the critically acclaimed supergroup she formed with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker in 2018.
Her selection for the IKEA campaign makes sense given her ability to convey vulnerability and warmth, qualities that align with the advert's intimate tone. Dacus has previously contributed music to film soundtracks and collaborative projects, demonstrating her versatility across different creative contexts.
Carole King's original and its lasting influence
Carole King wrote and recorded 'Home Again' for Tapestry, an album that spent 15 consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard 200 in 1971. The record went on to win four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and has sold over 25 million copies worldwide.
'Home Again' itself wasn't released as a single, but it became a fan favourite for its simple, heartfelt meditation on belonging. King's piano-driven arrangement and gentle vocal delivery established the song as a quiet cornerstone of the album. The track's theme of returning to a place of safety has given it enduring relevance, making it an obvious choice for a brand campaign centred on domestic life.
King's influence on popular music extends far beyond this single album. She wrote or co-wrote dozens of hits for other artists during the 1960s before launching her own performing career, and her songwriting continues to be studied and celebrated across generations.
Why this song works for IKEA's message
The pairing of 'Home Again' with IKEA's 'Coming Home' campaign creates a clear thematic link. Both the song and the advert explore home not as a physical structure but as an emotional state. This resonates with IKEA's long-standing positioning as a brand that helps people create better everyday lives at home, rather than simply selling furniture.
By choosing a well-known song with a 50-year history, IKEA also taps into multi-generational recognition. Older viewers may remember the original, while younger audiences discover it through Dacus's contemporary interpretation. This dual appeal broadens the campaign's reach without alienating either demographic.
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