"I'm heavily influenced by Joni Mitchell, Beatles, Cat Stevens, Stevie Wonder, Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Duke Ellington. I'm lightly but happily influenced by Wilco, Elliot Smith, Pat Metheny, Jimi Hendrix, Yes, John Coltrane, REM, Sigur Ros, Jesus Christ Superstar. I should mention U2 and add that I don't sound at all like them. In recent years I've had the chance to collaborate with artists who influenced me: Rick Rubin, Mike Doughty, Benmont Tench, Sheryl Crow, more. And somehow I think that everyone I write or perform with becomes an influence, sometimes more profound than any listening list: The Dixie Chicks, Jeremy Messersmith, Storyhill, Griffin House, Sean and Sara Watkins, Ingrid Michaelson, Bic Runga, Glen Phillips, Bleu, Gabe Dixon, Rachael Yamagata, Jason Mraz, lots more."
Sounds Like
Dan says: "I hope I sound like Neil Young, Sea Change by Beck, Iron and Wine. I know I sound like Semisonic (can't help that!), Beatles but trying not to. I've been listening to a lot of Louis Armstrong lately, somehow that's going to seep into my songwriting."
DW recently performed on the Australian music television show "Rockwiz," along with Australian singer and blues guitarist Liz Stringer.
Here's Dan performing on "Rockwiz."
Dan has posted two new blogs about his Australian adventure. Read Oz & Obama and Boys.
The National Wildlife Federation has used Dan's song "Free Life" in an inspiring clip about Alaska. Click here to check it out.
An Evening with Dan Wilson in hometown Minneapolis Dan will be performing at the Pantages Theater, Saturday, December 13!
Tickets on sale now at ticketmaster.com
DW Produced Album
The Dan Wilson-produced Jeremy Messersmith album, "The Silver City" (Princess Records), is now available. Fans of DW's singing will dig Jeremy's voice and music. His album's ten songs about the joys and perils of relationships, daily commuting, and information-age employment form an unexpectedly gorgeous love song to urban life. Plus, "Franklin Avenue" and "Miracles" rock. Click here for Jeremy's site or Click here to buy the album right away
James Morrison co-write
A song DW co-wrote with British folk & soul singer James Morrison, entitled "Once When I Was Little," is on Morrison's album "Songs for You, Truths for Me." Click here to listen!
Co-Write CD Release
Fans of DW's songwriting should be aware that the Gabe Dixon Band has released their CD, "The Gabe Dixon Band," on August 26th. Dan co-wrote three of the songs on the album with Gabe, "All Will Be Well," "Five More Hours," and "Find My Way." This album has been a long time in the writing, making, and waiting - DW fans can relate to that - and it has been worth the work and the wait. Click here for more info
New Carrie Rodriguez Co-Write
A song Dan has written with singer/songwriter/fiddler Carrie Rodriguez, "She Ain't Me," is the first single on Carrie's new album, also titled "She Ain't Me." You can hear the song on Carrie's myspace page. Click here to listen
Dan Wilson's live at the Electric Fetus EP is now available at iTunes, Amazon Digital, Napster, Real Music, and Rhapsody. Features his performances of "Hand On My Heart," "Free Life," "Easy Silence," "Sugar," and "Breathless" at his in-store at Electric Fetus in Minneapolis in October.
To accompany the release of "Free Life" as a single, DW has created a five-song EP, called "Be Free EP." The download-only record includes Dan's new, unreleased versions of The Dixie Chicks' "Lullaby" and Jimmy Webb's "All I Know." Rounding out the set are "I Can't Hold You," and "Hello Stranger," both tragically cut from the Free Life album.
AT&T Blue Room
Click here to listen to Dan tell the story behind some of the songs from "Free Life" and watch his exclusive performance for AT&T's Blue Room.
Click here to watch a clip from the Dixie Chicks about the making of the single "Not Ready To Make Nice" with commentary from Dan.
Get "Free Life" on iTunes or click here to buy the "Free Life" CD from Amazon.com.
Renowned for the elegance of his melodies, the intelligence of his lyrics and the purity of his voice, Dan Wilson's first solo album, titled "Free Life," is now available on American Recordings/Columbia.
"Free Life" features guest appearances by a large cast of characters, including Sheryl Crow, Mason Jennings, Sean Watkins, Benmont Tench, Eric Fawcett, John Munson, Amy Jennings, John Hermanson, Ruby Amanfu, Bleu, Jacob Slichter, Matt Wilson, JoAnna James, Andy Thompson, Gary Louris, Joe Savage and many others. Guests on "lost" tracks from the album's long history extend the Minneapolis who's who: Adam Levy, Rob Skoro, Brian Tighe and many others participated in the process over several years. The CD features 12 new songs written by Wilson, and one surprising addition — a version of the Dixie Chicks-DW collaboration "Easy Silence."
The album was produced by Wilson with guidance from label head and executive producer Rick Rubin. While "Free Life" is in some ways a departure from Wilson’s previous work, it also finds him in the familiar territory that has been reflected in much of his work — the elevated, chill-inducing melodies, the thoughtful yet straightforward lyrics, the striving for honesty of expression. “I’ve always loved songwriting that sounded like truth,” says Wilson, “like first-person confessions, like confidences whispered in your ear. Even if I’m willing to tinker with reality and my own history, I want the song to feel true.”
Wilson is a celebrated artist and songwriter whose diverse and highly lauded projects now span two decades. In 2007 Wilson received a Song of the Year Grammy Award with the Dixie Chicks for 'Not Ready to Make Nice,' while co-writing an additional five songs on the trio's Album of the Year-winning 'Taking the Long Way'. Wilson had previously been recognized by the Grammys with a nomination for 'Best Rock Song' as the primary songwriter and singer for the song 'Closing Time' by the critically acclaimed Minneapolis band Semisonic.
Now more than ever an in-demand songwriter and producer, Wilson has recently collaborated with artists including Mike Doughty, AbsentStar, Nickel Creek, Rachel Yamagata, Jewel, and Craig Wiseman. Dan Wilson began his career as a writer and performer with the seminal Minneapolis cult band Trip Shakespeare in the early nineties.
Dan performing "Easy Silence" on 2/14/07
at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis
(cellists: Jacqueline Ferrier-Ultan and Michelle Kinney of Jelloslave)
Dan telling the story of "Closing Time" @ Troubadour on 11/12/07
amazing! you are the best artist around! i had a long holidays in usa listening all the time your cd...i was lucky...when i found into a virgin store. !god bless u!thank u for to to be in this world!
Just read an article about you in Rhythms Magazine in Australia....thought you had disappeared...glad you haven't!! Best of luck with the new album. Cheers
Howdy Dan, Hope Australia is treating you well. Great to see you the other day in Minneapolis...thanks so much for coming! Safe and happy travels, Carrie
Hiya Dan...Thanks for The Friendship... Love Your Music.!!!!!!...Style & Class & a Unique/Creative & Original Sound etc... Nice to Hear You On KAK on Channel 9 Here.. Cheers & Support from Me & ALL Our Media/Music Concerns in AUSTRALIA & Overseas... Love & Peace. ~Denny & The Team~. p.s. keep in touch...k.
It's funny, I was standing in front of a grocery store by my house and they played your Free Life song. Hella got me thinking. Anyway I'm not usually into folksy stuff but I really enjoy your music.
