Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins is venturing out on her own. The accomplished singer/songwriter/fiddle player has signed a deal with Nonesuch Records, recruiting some big names to help make her solo debut.Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones will produce Watkins' self-titled album. Musical collaborators will include Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench, Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas, and last but not least, Watkins' Nickel Creek bandmates Chris Thile and Sean Watkins.
Watkins met Jones at a folk festival in England, where she was touring with Nickel Creek. She says theirs is a mutual admiration.
"He came up after Nickel Creek's performance and said that if I didn't let him produce my record he would never talk to me again," she tells Billboard. "I was thrilled that he was that excited about it."
Watkins' album is due April 7. In the meantime, you can see her in the video, 'Reno' -- her duet with Alex Woodard. (Watch it here.)
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
mchlgroveat 11-26-2008
Well it goes to show you.the Country singers and song writers all ways leave the place that gets them started and then you hear from them that I was glad to leave Country because it was so boring or the people were so back word thing idiot,s and being there was just a kick start to get into Rock and Roll,just like the Dixie Chicks when they thought well we suckered those idiots and took there Money now we can leave this town Nashville and move to Holly Wood and become what we we really are.and we see how the Dixie Chicks turned out.by the way what ever happened to them, some one told me they are walking the streets in Holly Wood doing what they do best.playing with a lot of Fiddles.and fat rich record promoters trying to get a Gig.did they even cut a new Record yet if they did, it sure is not in the top 10 that I can see.and this woman will end up the same way.15 minutes does go by fast.
dwolfat 11-26-2008
Are you retarded or just a dope!
InPlainSight2004at 11-26-2008
Yeah, the Chicks really suffered. And it was Country Music that their backs on the Chicks for speaking out against the war, not the other way around.
jv53at 11-26-2008
In 2006, Taking the Long Way was the ninth best-selling album in the United States. It won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Album, Best Record, and Best Song (for "Not Ready To Make Nice") - 14 years since one artist or group last swept those three awards[44] - and Best Country Album on February 11, 2007. After their Grammy win, Dixie Chicks album Taking the Long Way hit #8 on Billboard 200 and #1 on the country album charts and the Song of the Year-winning Not Ready to Make Nice re-entered the charts at #4 on the Hot 100.
The music video for "Not Ready to Make Nice" was nominated for the 2007 CMT Music Video Awards in the categories of "Video of the Year" and "Group Video of the Year," however, the video did not win in its nominated categories.
Dixie Chicks were nominated for the 2007 Country Music Association's award for Top Vocal Group, their first nomination from the CMA Awards since 2003.
So much for your "15 minutes" theory.
chriswayne864at 12-01-2008
moron
rthateat 11-26-2008
You know, it's truly amazing that the Rolling Stones is one of the FEW groups (if not the ONLY one) after some fifty years are still together!!
donmusiconeat 11-26-2008
The Oak Ridge Boys are still going strong after as many years as the Stones. Unlike the Rolling Stones only doing a small number of dates a year if they do any, the Oaks are still doing over 80 shows a year. On the road every week of the year
nickotimeraceat 11-26-2008
With all due respect, This is very misleading. While she occasionally sang for Nickle Creek she was certainly not the lead singer. Nickle Creek has never been mainstream country{they have too much class for that}. Just because she's doing a solo album doesn't mean she's leaving the band. What's the big deal?
dunphyetcat 11-26-2008
Nickel Creek has been technically broken up for a few years now anyway. Thile and Sean Watkins both have other projects under their belts now. I don't know why there seems to be such a shock that Sara's moved on too.
bilco7at 11-26-2008
I maintain that an artist is free to choose his/her own career path. You can only plow the same fields so many times. Look at Alison Krauss. She (hopefully temporarily) has left AKUS to pursue other directions. This is what makes great musicians great in the first place. I am hopeful that AKUS will reform, as they are one of the best, tightest, entertaining groups out there.
rineay12at 11-26-2008
This is not news. The band announced last year that they were no longer going to work together and were going to pursue other projects individually. They've all done solo projects before, I believe.
rexnstudioat 11-26-2008
Before she does this, she should talk to the Phelps Brothers. Remember the 2 guys that left the Kentucky Headhunters at the height of their success? Neither group could chart a record after that brilliant move.
Geneat 11-26-2008
While it's true artist are free to choose what type
music they want to play/sing why do a lot of them choose country then as soon as they become known
dump the ones who gave them a break? Don't be using country as a stepping stone then thumb your nose
at it. You can't make it in the field you want to be in? You have to be two faced about it?
Geneat 11-26-2008
Another Taylor Swift? I can't stand these people who get a start in country then suddenly discover
OMG!!! I'm not a country person.Well surprise
surprise. What is wrong with these people? These new country ??? artist are not like the old country artist who love it because it's their kind of music. Now it's all glitter and hollywood productions. Hank Williams or any of the true country singers wouldn't even make it today. It's all about money now.
nickotimeraceat 11-26-2008
Real musicians don't need or care about titles. That's for the music lables to deal with.