Jennifer Nettles, one-half of the country duo Sugarland, is working on a solo album with acclaimed producer Rick Rubin.
“I'm super-respectful of his pedigree,” Nettles said about Rubin in an interview with Rolling Stone. “I still get nervous around him, in a kind of a music-crush way.”
Rubin had nothing but good things to say about Nettles, too. “It's thrilling to hear her sing!” he told the magazine.
This is Nettles’ first project since welcoming baby boy Magnus Hamilton Miller in December. “I'm a working mother now,” she told Rolling Stone, adding that four months after giving birth was the perfect time to start working again.
“You can get comfortable with certain sounds, and your fans come to expect them,” she continued. “At the same time, I wanted to play with different parts of my voice or my writing. It won't be a shock or surprise to a Sugarland fan, but hopefully it will bring in new listeners, too.”
The album will feature collaborations with Sara Bareilles and Butch Walker. It was also recorded far from Nashville and Atlanta, where Sugarland has make their music in the past. Nettles opted to move out to Malibu and work at Shangri-La Studios. By recording their Rubin was able to recruit keyboardist Ian McLagan, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, bassist Jason Lader and guitarists Smokey Hormel and Matt Sweeney.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the album is expected to be released in the fall.