(PR) Dan Wilson releases of his solo debut Free Life this week. Produced by Wilson, a Grammy winning songwriter and former member of cult band Trip Shakespeare and the critically acclaimed group Semisonic, the album will be available on American Recordings now. Executive produced by label head Rick Rubin, Free Life features contributions from Sheryl Crow, Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) and Eric Fawcett (N.E.R.D.), among others.Now working as a solo artist and collaborating with a collective of notable musicians from his home city of Minneapolis, Wilson earned a Song of the Year Grammy® in February for his co-writing work on the Dixie Chick’s “Not Ready To Make Nice” from the album Taking the Long Way. He also contributed writing to six songs on the album, which won the Dixie Chicks a total of five Grammy® Awards including Album Of The Year and Country Album Of The Year. Wilson has also collaborated with such acclaimed artists as Mike Doughty, Rachael Yamagata, Jewel, Jason Mraz and others.
Wilson’s first solo effort, Free Life began as a self-produced project in the Twin Cities and was finished in Los Angeles by Wilson and Rubin, who enthusiastically agreed to help complete the record, saying of Wilson, “Dan’s music touches my soul. He is/has the perfect combination of inspiration and songcraft. He is a timeless artist whose music will feel as good in 50 years as it does today.”
The album features contributions by renowned artists from the worlds of pop, rock, country and bluegrass. Sheryl Crow provides harmony vocals on “Sugar,” Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) plays the finger picked acoustic guitar on “Free Life” and Gary Louris (The Jayhawks) contributes a guitar solo on “Cry.” Furthermore, Eric Fawcett (N.E.R.D.) plays drums on a number of tracks and Benmont Tench (The Heartbreakers) provides piano on “Against History” and several others.
