Ken Block, whose voice is familiar to many as the lead singer of the band Sister Hazel, will be releasing his debut solo album, “drift,” on December 9th via Rock Ridge Music. “Recording by myself, without the five-man democracy, was both liberating and utterly terrifying,” says Block.  “In the band setting, everyone puts their stamp on the songs.” His bandmates, who have also created music outside of the confines of the band, are extremely supportive of his endeavors, including some contributions to the album on guitar by Ryan Newell, bass by Jett Beres, and backing vocals by Drew Copeland.  “It was interesting to work like this,” Block says.  “I was able to play with some unusual harmonies and take some interesting chances.  And the sounds we chose to put around that give the music a different fingerprint than what you’ve come to expect from the band.”
 
Says album executive producer Jason Spiewak:  “We were able to capture so many different vibes on ‘drift.’ The album should excite hardcore Sister Hazel fans as well as fans of Ken's contemporaries, artists like Rob Thomas, Ray LaMontagne, and James Morrison.”
 
Block found the opportunity to explore different ground exciting. One of the most obvious examples was his choice to include a female backing vocalist (Maile Misajon) on the opening track, “blue to a blind man.” “The album begins in a delicate, deeply introspective way,” Block agrees.  “It has moments of singer-songwriter intimacy, some quirky bits, a few playful parts, and some big, powerful passages.  What a ride, but it’s all inter-connected.  The difference between track one and track twelve is astonishing, but somehow it works.”
 
Block had been writing for a long time, settling on the twelve tracks that would make the record in much the way that a “puzzle comes together.”  Because he had some of the songs in his hip pocket for a while, there was a comfort level with them before he even entered the studio, yet Block still wanted the recording to sound fresh and spontaneous, not over-thought sonically.  The “if it feels good, it will sound good” mentality carried him through the time that it took to record the album in Nashville at Session World.  Block produced the record himself.  A veritable “who’s who” of musicians shared their prowess in the studio. Tom Bukovac (Rob Thomas, Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Rascal Flatts), with whom Block had worked on Sister Hazel’s album “Absolutely,” contributed on the guitar front.  Session player Shannon Forest (Sheryl Crow, Toby Keith, Alison Krauss, Little Big Town) filled the drummer slot, and bass players Ethan Pilzer (Jewel, Big & Rich) and Mark Hill (Art Garfunkel, Gretchen Wilson, Kenny Loggins) rotated among the tracks.  Jason Spiewak (Ernie Halter, Chris Volz, Five.Bolt.Main), executive producer, provided the keyboard parts.  Chip Matthews, a good friend and mixing kingpin sought for his ability to capture vocals, engineered the record.  “The recording process was so gratifying and effortless,” says Block.  “Pure. Easy.  Like swimming downstream.  We had great people in the room to help me paint what I heard in my head.”
 
On the eve of his solo album’s release, Block is happily married with three children, some percolating book projects on the horizon, a new Sister Hazel album in 2009, his merch company called Soundwave Merchandise, the launching of his web community “Blockville” (http://www.blockville.com), and the ongoing success of both Lyrics for Life and the Rock Boat (which he co-founded with the band and Sixthman in 2001) – Block counts his blessings and cites his perpetual interest in new avenues and new ideas as a form of inspiration.  “I feel really creative right now,” Block says.  “I just like to open up the stream and see what flows out.  I’m thrilled with the way that ‘drift’ came together.  I’m more comfortable in my skin than I ever have been before and I think it shows in the music on this record.”
 
The lead single from the album, “The Other Side,” will go to Triple A radio for adds in February 2009.  Block is planning some unique performances in 2008 and 2009 in support of the album but will not be embarking on a full-blown solo tour. 
 
http://www.blockville.com