Sara Watkins signs with Nonesuch

Former Nickel Creek member Sara Watkins has signed a deal with Nonesuch Records. The label will release her self-titled debut, produced by Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, on April 7. Watkins former bandmate Chris Thile also is signed to Nonesuch.

Watkins' self-titled album features a slew of her famous and talented friends including Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello's drummer), Benmont Tench (of The Heartbreakers), Sebastian Steinberg (of Soul Coughing), Tim O'Brien, Chris Eldridge (of the Punch Brothers) and her former bandmates, Chris Thile and Sean Watkins.

Of the fourteen tracks on the album, Watkins co-wrote eight of them. Included among the covers are versions of Tom Waits' "Pony" (from Mule Variations) and Jon Brion's "Same Mistakes" (from Meaningless).

Check out the Nonesuch Journal for more details.