Gov’t Mule front man Warren Haynes reveals details for new solo album
GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, producer, and Gov’t Mule front man Warren Haynes has officially revealed the details for his new solo album, Million Voices Whisper, and has shared the first single “This Life As We Know It.” The new song is Warren’s universal message for embracing the positivity of change and looking forward through a new lens – one that starts within. PRESS HERE to listen and PRESS HERE to watch the in-studio performance video featuring behind-the-scenes content from the recording of “This Life As We Know It” at Power Station New England. Million Voices Whisper, produced by Haynes, will be released November 1st digitally and on CD via Fantasy Records, with vinyl shipping on November 15th, marking Warren’s first solo album in almost a decade. A deluxe CD version will also be available including four bonus songs. PRESS HERE to pre-save and pre-order.
“It felt great to go into the studio to capture this material with this new band who are all fantastic players,” shares Haynes. “This album is quite different than my previous solo records. There's a lot of soul music influence but very song oriented with subtle nods to a few of my heroes. And what a treat to get back into the studio with my brother Derek. Big shoutout to him as well as Lukas and Jamey for being a part of it. I'm really proud of this new album.”
Of “This Life As We Know It,” he adds, “It has a very uplifting message and musically, as well, it is just a very positive feeling song. One that I feel we can all relate to. It’s about moving forward and getting past a lot of things but feeling good about life and feeling good about yourself.”
On Million Voices Whisper, the fourth solo album in Warren’s esteemed career catalog, Haynes sounds as energetic and focused as ever, powering through an 11-song set of soulful blues-rock. Accompanying Warren on the collection are members of his current all-star band including John Medeski on keyboards, longtime drummer Terence Higgins (of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band) and Gov’t Mule bassist Kevin Scott. Million Voices Whisper also features guest appearances from his Allman Brothers Band compatriot Derek Trucks, whose unmistakable guitar sound toughs up three tracks on the album that were co-produced with Haynes, and his Last Waltz Tour co-stars Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson, who are featured on the forceful “Day of Reckoning.” Joining Haynes in the studio for the first time since the final sunset of the ABB, one of the featured tracks with Trucks on guitar is “Real Real Love,” a song initially co-written with Gregg Allman that Warren finished in Allman’s style and methods as if Gregg were singing it to honor his friend.
Buzzing through the forthcoming album is the question of how to make things better – in love, in life, in the world – led by Haynes’ soaring vocals and the poignancy of his six-string mastery. Million Voices Whisper opens with "These Changes," a co-write with Trucks, leading into “Go Down Swinging,” co-written with Johnson, which features a horn section and a Van Morrison vibe. Then, there’s the soulful power ballad “Till The Sun Comes Shining Through” driven by Warren’s impassioned vocals and slide guitar skills. The expressive pipes of touring backup singer Saundra Williams are also heard on multiple tracks including the new single “This Life As We Know It.” Among the four bonus tracks on the deluxe CD version is a new version of the Trucks-Haynes composition “Back Where I Started” featuring Warren on lead vocals and slide guitar and the power trio of Haynes, Nelson and Johnson covering the CSNY classic “Find The Cost of Freedom” into an extended version of “Day of Reckoning.”