Ann Wilson of Heart has released the first single from her forthcoming solo album due out September 14th. “I Am the Highway” was originally performed by Audioslave and sung by the late Chris Cornell.
“The song is strong, confident, spiritual,” says the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee of “I Am The Highway.” “It’s about a person who refuses to be tied down to the mundane, who is constantly looking for freedom and independence on a more universal scale, not just ordinary everyday reality. It was the cry of a soul, and it’s a beautiful song. Chris and I were friends; we had a lot in common, we were both outsiders in a way. He left us with amazing music.”
Fittingly titled, Immortal features 10 musically diverse tracks that pay homage to some of the singer’s favorite songs and artists, all of whom have passed away in recent years and whose music poignantly lives on (full track listing here).
Ann Wilson says she chose the album title “Immortal” after revealing some working titles early on in the project. “The original working titles evolved as the concept for the album evolved; a little bit at a time,” she explains. “As my understanding of what I had undertaken grew and clarified, I realized a larger truth; that the souls may have departed but the songs will forever be their resonances. These are the poets of our time and their expressions must be handed down. Poetry is lasting and elemental like carvings in rock.”
“I Am The Highway” can be heard on all streaming platforms and is also available as an instant-grat track with digital album pre-orders.
Wilson’s headlining solo tour kicked off Friday in Snoqualmie, WA and runs through July 15 in Aspen, CO. She then joins the “Stars Align Tour” with Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers, which kicks off July 18 in West Valley City, Utah and stops in over 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada including Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Toronto and Nashville, before wrapping August 26 in Tampa. Ann’s set list this summer will include songs from Immortal. The songs will also be featured in her first-ever solo television special (details TBA), taped this past April at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL, to coincide with the album’s release.
