After years of fronting the local band Blackford Creek, Daviess County native Dan Hall is stepping into the spotlight with his debut solo EP — and he’s getting help from some of Nashville’s best. The five-song collection is set to be released on April 11 on all major streaming platforms.
Hall said the project took shape after a few Blackford Creek members stepped away, prompting him to try something new.
“I’d never done a solo thing before. It was scary at first, but I decided to put together a studio band and record an album,” Hall said.
He reached out to an old friend — a Nashville-based drummer who’d toured nationally — to help lay the groundwork. He said that connection led to bassist and producer Dave Fowler, who has worked with artists including Reba McEntire. Fowler was impressed enough with Hall’s work to take it to Kent Wells, best known as Dolly Parton’s longtime producer.
Wells quickly jumped on board, and the collaboration evolved into talks of a potential record deal.
“Having Kent Wells produce this album is unreal. He’s worked with Dolly for years, and to have that kind of influence on my music is just a blessing,” Hall said.
Hall described his style as traditional country with a modern edge, citing influences such as George Strait, Toby Keith, and Keith Urban. He wrote each of the EP’s five tracks himself, and a few of them have already become fan favorites at live shows.
“Some of the songs are already being sung back to me at gigs. People know the words, and that means everything,” he said. “This release has been six months in the making, and folks have been asking about it constantly.”
Hall, a BMI-registered songwriter, is already working on a follow-up single, which he plans to record in May.
In addition to the upcoming release, Hall has opened for major artists like Tracy Lawrence and Rodney Atkins and toured with Confederate Railroad during his time with Blackford Creek.
Hall said he’s proud of where he comes from and grateful for the community support over the years.
“This area has been really good to me. I’ve played a lot of shows here, and people have always been in my corner,” Hall said.
While his music draws inspiration from many artists, Hall said the foundation of his songwriting is always personal.
“For me, it starts with the melody, but you have to live it to write it,” he said. “You can’t write about something you don’t know.”
Hall is planning to announce local show dates soon. For updates, fans can follow him on social media or keep an eye on streaming platforms ahead of the April 11 release.
