Dan Wilson Releases New Song “laurel”From Instrumental Album good night, los angeles
18 Song Collection of Improvised Piano Meditations Recorded on a Restored Piano from 1918 out May 9
March 26, 2024: Today, The GRAMMY-winning musician, songwriter, and producer Dan Wilson released a new song “laurel”from his forthcoming instrumental album good night, los angeles that will be released onMay 9. An 18-song collection of piano recordings born out of a regular series of Sunday evening recordings he would post to social media, the album was recorded entirely on a 1918 Vose & Sons upright piano that was found on the streets of Hollywood. The album is Wilson’s first instrumental release and offers a rare glimpse into the award-winning songwriter’s raw, unvarnished creative process.
Watch the video for “laurel” via YouTube.
“Here’s the fourth composition I’ve released from good night, los angeles, titled ‘laurel.’ I think this is the one where I realized I was completely free chordally from pop music. These songs could go anywhere, harmonically – and that was very liberating,” explains Wilson. “Laurel” follows the release of the three-song EP suite of “deervale / moorpark / tujunga.”The release featured an official video by art director Yazz Alali and illustrator/animator Sarah Nelson, who paired the music with hypnotic animations of mushrooms growing and interacting, their mycelium spreading out through the soil and entangling together to create increasingly complex neural networks. About the album, Wilson explains: “In January, I was scheduled to announce my first instrumental album, good night, los angeles. The album was born out of a weekly artistic practice: late Sunday nights I would sit down at the piano and improvise a simple, peaceful instrumental piece on the spot. Then I’d share it on Instagram with the caption #goodnightlosangeles. It was a calming and meditative practice for me, and I hoped the songs would have the same calming and meditative effect on listeners. I ended up making nearly 200 of them. Late last year, I compiled my favorites into an album for a January release. But then the wildfires hit my town, and I hesitated. I didn’t want to appear tone-deaf – especially given the album’s title. But now I can’t help wanting to move forward and share this music with the world. I’m from Minneapolis, but I’ve lived here since 2010 and good night, los angeles is a love letter to my adopted city. These are late-night improvised lullabies, and I hope they can help someone put down their worries for a moment and feel the peace of those quiet nights here in LA.” An instrumental piano album may seem like an unlikely project for an artist so known for his way with words, who last year alone received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song (“It Never Went Away”), won his first CMA Award for Song of the Year(“White Horse”) and took home the GRAMMYfor Country Song of the Year (“WhiteHorse”). But in the end, the result is classic Wilson: an evocative work of deep emotion and thoughtful beauty, one crafted purely for the love of the creation and shared in the hopes of forging meaningful connection. In addition to his new album, Dan Wilson’s band Semisonic has just announced a summer tour supporting Toad The Wet Sprocket which will make stops along the west coast and midwest. Find a full list of tour dates below.
good night, los angeles tracklist:
1) mulholland
2) deervale
3) moorpark
4) tujunga
5) rhinestone
6) volledam
7) beverly glen
8) ambrose
9) van nuys
10) round valley
11) avon
12) alexandria
13) ventura
14) fairway
15) coldwater
16) normandie
17) laurel
18) hillhurst
Semisonic Tour Dates:
7/23 – Eugene, OR @ Cuthbert Amphitheater
7/24 – Bellingham, WA @ Mount Baker Theatre
7/25 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
7/26 – Sandpoint, ID @ Festival At Sandpoint
7/28 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Venue TBA (Coming soon!)
7/30 – Denver, CO @ Denver Botanic Gardens
8/1 – Omaha, NE @ Astro Amphitheater
8/2 – Kansas City, MO @ Grinders KC Event Venue
8/3 – Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory
8/5 – Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center
8/7 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
8/8 – Indianapolis, IN @ Rock the Ruins
8/9 – Interlochen, MI @ Kresge Auditorium
8/10 – Paw Paw, MI @ Warner Vineyards
