I went to a songwriting retreat in '08. A bunch of the artists from the Rock Boat got together and were paired off in groups of three to write songs. I wrote a couple of songs there with Pat McGee and Emerson Hart, and also one with Pat McGee and Mike Daly (from Whiskeytown). The songs "Release" and "Take A Bow" came from those sessions.

"Release" was written when all the writers were going through a divorce, and it's about new beginnings and about letting going of the past, which I think is a fitting start to the disc. It turned out to be the title of album too. We thought it was a good name for the album because of what making the album was about � the release of the old processes of making records and a new beginning for us as well. A year ago I bought a cello and was looking for place to put it on the album. In "Release," I play two notes on the cello. It's my cello debut.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album - right here!