Stiltskin front man and ex-Genesis lead singer Ray Wilson has announced details of his fifth solo studio album ‘Song For A Friend’. Dedicated to his much missed friend James Lewis who passed away in 2015, the record will be released on 3rd June 2016.
By Eamon O'Neill on 25th April 2016.
Stiltskin front man and ex-Genesis lead singer Ray Wilson has announced details of his fifth solo studio album ‘Song For A Friend’. Dedicated to his much missed companion James Lewis who passed away in 2015, the record will be released on 3rd June 2016.
Described by Wilson as "a collection of musical short stories", the disc will come in CD with booklet and black vinyl LP formats. The vinyl release can be pre-ordered here, while the CD version is available for pre-order here. The album can also be pre-ordered from Amazon on both CD and LP formats.
‘Song For A Friend’ showcases Ray’s up close and personal storytelling style, stripping his soul bare with tales of loss, friendship and human emotions. Opening track ‘Old Book On The Shelf’ takes the listener to a cafe in Amsterdam, where a man sits alone unable to find inner peace. When he notices a solitary book on a shelf he comes across a memoir of his own life, and with that the realization that his peace and happiness will only come if he accepts himself for who he is and stops trying to fight it or prove himself to anyone. It’s a fable we all can relate to, and it opens hearts and minds to the intimate stories that follow.
Comments the 'Inside' singer; “the meaning of life is the journey; this album encapsulate the journey”. He elaborates: “This album was written to inspire. When you feel like giving in, when you feel you are losing the will to keep pushing or fighting. This was written to help you dig deep, and fight for joy and peace in your life”.
From Lewis’ tragic suicide to his partner’s accident, life on the road and some of the friends who touched his life in one way or another, Ray Wilson shares his experiences, feelings and beliefs without holding back. ‘Song For A Friend’ is an open book aiming not only to entertain listeners with its heart warming melodies, but also to encourage them through the obstacles of their life journey.
Scotsman Ray is well known as the front man of rock outfit Stiltskin, and lead singer of seminal prog legends Genesis from 1996 to 1999. Wilson provided the vocals to Genesis' 1997 album 'Calling All Stations' - the band's final studio release to date.
After splitting with Genesis, Wilson continued to flourish, producing a further studio album with Stiltskin and embarking on a solo career. His live tribute ‘Genesis Classic’ meanwhile, involved 10 musicians from across Europe, with members Stiltskin joined on stage by the Berlin Symphony Ensemble.
In 2015 Stiltskin guitarist and collaborator, Uwe Metzler, sketched out some acoustic ideas, and once again the solo journey began. Helping Wilson on ‘Song For A Friend’ together with Metzler and drummer Nir Z are Lawrie McMillan on bass, Kool Lyczek on piano, Hammond and melotron, Ali Ferguson on guitar, Marcin Kasper on sax, brother Steve Wilson on backing vocals, Mario Koszel on percussion and Peter Hoff on percussion loops, with mixing courtesy of Yogi Lang.
'Song For A Friend' track listing:
1. Old Book on the Shelf
2. Over my Dead Body
3. Cold Light of the Day
4. Song for a Friend
5. How Long is too Long
6. Not Long till Springtime
7. Backseat Driving
8. Parallel Souls
9. Tried and Failed
10. High Hope
Stiltskin front man and ex-Genesis lead singer Ray Wilson has announced details of his fifth solo studio album ‘Song For A Friend’. Dedicated to his much missed companion James Lewis who passed away in 2015, the record will be released on 3rd June 2016.
Described by Wilson as "a collection of musical short stories", the disc will come in CD with booklet and black vinyl LP formats. The vinyl release can be pre-ordered here, while the CD version is available for pre-order here. The album can also be pre-ordered from Amazon on both CD and LP formats.
‘Song For A Friend’ showcases Ray’s up close and personal storytelling style, stripping his soul bare with tales of loss, friendship and human emotions. Opening track ‘Old Book On The Shelf’ takes the listener to a cafe in Amsterdam, where a man sits alone unable to find inner peace. When he notices a solitary book on a shelf he comes across a memoir of his own life, and with that the realization that his peace and happiness will only come if he accepts himself for who he is and stops trying to fight it or prove himself to anyone. It’s a fable we all can relate to, and it opens hearts and minds to the intimate stories that follow.
Comments the 'Inside' singer; “the meaning of life is the journey; this album encapsulate the journey”. He elaborates: “This album was written to inspire. When you feel like giving in, when you feel you are losing the will to keep pushing or fighting. This was written to help you dig deep, and fight for joy and peace in your life”.
From Lewis’ tragic suicide to his partner’s accident, life on the road and some of the friends who touched his life in one way or another, Ray Wilson shares his experiences, feelings and beliefs without holding back. ‘Song For A Friend’ is an open book aiming not only to entertain listeners with its heart warming melodies, but also to encourage them through the obstacles of their life journey.
Scotsman Ray is well known as the front man of rock outfit Stiltskin, and lead singer of seminal prog legends Genesis from 1996 to 1999. Wilson provided the vocals to Genesis' 1997 album 'Calling All Stations' - the band's final studio release to date.
After splitting with Genesis, Wilson continued to flourish, producing a further studio album with Stiltskin and embarking on a solo career. His live tribute ‘Genesis Classic’ meanwhile, involved 10 musicians from across Europe, with members Stiltskin joined on stage by the Berlin Symphony Ensemble.
In 2015 Stiltskin guitarist and collaborator, Uwe Metzler, sketched out some acoustic ideas, and once again the solo journey began. Helping Wilson on ‘Song For A Friend’ together with Metzler and drummer Nir Z are Lawrie McMillan on bass, Kool Lyczek on piano, Hammond and melotron, Ali Ferguson on guitar, Marcin Kasper on sax, brother Steve Wilson on backing vocals, Mario Koszel on percussion and Peter Hoff on percussion loops, with mixing courtesy of Yogi Lang.
'Song For A Friend' track listing:
1. Old Book on the Shelf
2. Over my Dead Body
3. Cold Light of the Day
4. Song for a Friend
5. How Long is too Long
6. Not Long till Springtime
7. Backseat Driving
8. Parallel Souls
9. Tried and Failed
10. High Hope
