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| photo: Justin Clough |
Dan Layus, primarily known as the frontman of the critically acclaimed band Augustana, is set to release his debut solo album, Dangerous Things, out Oct. 21 on Plated Records/ADA. As a special preview the title track, which features The Secret Sisters, is premiering today via The Wall Street Journal. Listen/share here: http://on.wsj.com/2b5BcBJ.
Dangerous Things spans influences from Hank Williams to Tom Waits, from Dwight Yoakam to Woody Guthrie. The album was recorded in Nashville at SouthxSea Studios with minimal production. The lyrics are about life’s struggles and its simple joys, and harmonies are provided by Muscle Shoals’ own The Secret Sisters.
Of the new music, Layus explains, “I always knew this album was out there waiting, I just had to let it come to me. That was the most challenging part of this record. It was three years of repeatedly realizing I was trying too hard to write a perfect song. It all started to make sense and feel good as soon as I stopped treating songwriting like it was songwriting. Somewhere along the way I decided that if an idea was going to turn into a song on this album, then it had to be written organically and purely. It had to be an inspired moment that was unfolding melodically, musically and lyrically, all while making me feel something. Subsequently, that's how I recorded the songs—I played the song live a few times in front of some microphones and when I felt something real happen, we moved onto the next one. The songs and recordings on this album are inspired by other people’s stories and informed by my own experiences and I’ve never felt more proud or comfortable sharing an album as I feel with this one.”
Layus spent 12 years as the creative force behind American roots-rock band Augustana. After years of grueling touring which took them from basements to amphitheaters, the band as unit had run its course and disbanded. Layus decided to keep the name and subsequently released another album and toured twice more as Augustana.
In 2013 he moved to Nashville and found an immediate home in the songwriter community, penning songs for Platinum country artists and pop artists alike. In this new endeavor he also found something even more valuable—the new sound he had been searching for and scratching at since the inception of Augustana.
Having just finished a European tour supporting the Dixie Chicks, Layus will be joining them on select dates of their U.S. tour in September before heading back out on a European tour to support the release of Dangerous Things. North American fall headline dates to be announced soon. See below for details.
Track listing:
1. Dangerous Things (feat. The Secret Sisters)
2. Driveway
3. Four Rings (feat. The Secret Sisters)
4. You Can Have Mine (feat. The Secret Sisters)
5. Only Gets Darker (feat. The Secret Sisters)
6. Call Me When You Get There
7. Let Me Lose You
8. Fell In Love On A Beach
9. Destroyer
10. Enough For You
11. The Nightbird (feat. The Secret Sisters)
Live dates:
September 23—Toledo, OH—Huntington Center*
September 24—Green Bay, WI—Resch Center*
September 30—Berlin, Germany—Maze Club
October 1— Antwerp, Belgium—Havn Church
October 2—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Paradiso
October 3—Paris, France—Pop-Up du Label
October 5—Zurich, Switzerland—Papiersaal
October 6—Nyon, Switzerland—La Parenthese
October 8—Brighton, UK—The Haunt
October 9—London, UK—Scala
October 10—Nottingham, UK—Bodega
October 11—Bristol, UK—Thekla
October 12—Manchester, UK—Deaf Institute
October 14—Glasgow, UK—Stereo
October 15—Edinburgh, UK—Electric Circus
October 16—Dublin, Ireland—Academy 2
*with Dixie Chicks
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