Nicholson plans first post-Balsam Range disc

Darren Nicholson is on a roll. Since his departure late last year from Balsam Range, the award-winning quintet he helped to found some 15 years ago, the singer, songwriter and mandolinist has revved up his solo career with a crowded personal appearance calendar, 3 singles that triangulate the corners of the bluegrass songbook — a chart-topping murder ballad, a spirited gospel number and a gripping instrumental, all self-penned — and now, the announcement of a new collection, Wanderer, that puts an exclamation point on his musical declaration of independence.

"I have been asked about this being my first release post-Balsam Range," Nicholson said, "and if there any overarching themes. The answer is simply that it has no bearing on the way I approach music. I want top quality, period. Every recording, I try to pick a variety of the best material, musicians and singers to fit the direction of the album."

"As with [2021's] 'Man on a Mission'," he continues, "I wanted musicians who pushed me to new places — ultimately taking my original songs and giving them a new flavor. I got youthful, progressive, creative minds involved, and it brings out the best in me. I think 'Wanderer' is unique and original from top to bottom; it's even vastly different from my previous works. I am so proud of that."

Longtime friend and colleague Colby Laney (guitar) and fellow western North Carolinian Zachary Smith (Town Mountain) comprised the rhythm section, while banjoist Wes Corbett (Sam Bush Band) and fiddler Billy Contreras also played.

Although most of the album's songs were written with frequent collaborator Charles Humphrey III (Songs From The Road Band), Nicholson reached out in new directions to partner with writers like bluegrass writer Mark "Brink" Brinkman and Eric Gibson of the Americana-leaning Gibson Brothers.

"'Wanderer' has been an absolute joy from beginning to end," Nicholson said. "Writing and crafting all original music has become such a passion for me, and to see these songs turn out like this feels really good. The common thread is that they're all songs about life: happiness, hardships, love and hope. They are all about me or things I can closely relate to. The only thing I'm qualified to write about is myself. I think being genuine, even if it's not always pretty, can carry you a long way in life. I just want to keep growing with every recording and working to become a better version of myself."