Ever since George Clooney lip-synched his way through Dan Tyminski’s version of “I am a Man of Constant Sorrow” in the Coen Brothers’ O Brother Where Art Thou, Bluegrass and American Roots music has enjoyed a mini-renaissance, with venerable old lions like Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson, and current artists like Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Norman Blake and the Old Crow Medicine Show being exposed to a far wider audience.

Riding the crest of that wave was Nickel Creek. A young trio which wedded strong instrumental and vocal technique and bluegrass sensibilities to modern pop music (their short career included covers of songs by Pavement and Britney Spears, a tour with Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket in a “supergroup” called Mutual Admiration Society, and a tour opening for Fiona Apple and serving as her backup band). Nickel Creek went on indefinite hiatus a few years ago, leaving one of its members, fiddle player Sara Watkins, without a regular gig. Sara has now returned with her eponymous debut solo album, produced by John Paul Jones and featuring a veritable who’s who of the roots/folk/bluegrass scene. All of this is to say, if you enjoy roots music and bluegrass, and have not yet heard Sara Watkins, you should most definitely check her out.

Sara was kind enough to speak with us about her solo record on May 29. In addition to educating me on the existence of something called a Hardanger Fiddle, she spoke about her songwriting process, her other projects, the differences between being a member of Nickel Creek and a solo artist, and showed what I consider to be a remarkable degree of humility with respect to her own talent. (more…)