Stay Chad Lawson

• Chad Lawson (b.1975):
• 1 Stay 03:21
• 2 One Day You Finally Knew 02:58
• 3 Across the Distance 02:54
• 4 Rain 03:24
• 5 She Dreams of Time 03:22
• Total Runtime 15:59

Info for Stay

Composer and pianist Chad Lawson announces the release of his major label solo piano debut, Stay, set for May 1 via Decca Records US. Where minimalism and melody meet, the five track EP and title track “Stay,” is a paean to inner peace and a clarion call to just exhale and breathe. You can pre-order the EP and listen to the single here. You can watch the accompanying visualizer here.

A modern-day master of reinvention, Lawson eschews both the trend of ancient instruments and New Age-y electronic clichés commonly heard in today’s wellness music, relying only on his faithful piano, his emotional signature sound and eclectic taste for the five original songs on the EP. From the self-reflective “Stay” to the overall theme of the EP, Lawson strikes a delicate balance between the intimate and universal. “I’m just trying to invite people to take a moment and reconnect with who they are” says Lawson. “The music I make is meant to create calm.” “It’s about finding those times that are fleeting but buffer the soul.” The music is both peaceful and transfixing.

As an indie artist Lawson has topped the iTunes chart and has evolved into a unique expressive voice that has garnered recognition from marquee outlets that include CBS Sunday Morning and NPR's All Things Considered. Now as the latest signee to the renowned label, Decca Records US, Lawson readies himself for the next step in his continuously progressive musical journey.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Decca Records US as we share a passion in presenting music in its most beautiful simplicity,” says Lawson. “With their remarkable talent and global presence in concert with my desire in creating impassioned music, I’m excited in this new season to bring such a sound to listeners around the world.”

As an artist Chad offers a unique and proven success, with a message that cuts through genres and labels,” adds on Graham Parker, President, Decca Records US. “I am therefore so proud to welcome Chad to our roster, as now more than ever we need music attuned for an audience’s truest needs, and with Chad’s first EP on Decca Records US, there is no doubt that this is calm music for a chaotic time.”

Chad Lawson, piano

Chad Lawson
is just about the polar opposite of every other solo pianist out there. He has toured the world with Julio Iglesias, is an official Steinway performing artist, recipient of “Album of the Year” on Whisperings Solo Piano Radio and has scored several films.

Earlier, Lawson’s trio recorded two wildly-successful albums for Summit Records. Dear Dorothy; the Oz Sessions—brought music from the Wizard of Oz to the national jazz charts. The CD was featured in Starbucks, showed up in Dawson’s Creek, and the trio even toured Japan. Unforeseen, their second album, jumped to #8 on the national jazz charts, and included songs by the Police, Soundgarden, and the Beatles. However, all these successes were a blur, leading up to one night on tour in Spain with Iglesias—in yet another sold-out 10,000 seat venue. It was here that Lawson suddenly felt absolutely alone on stage and said, “It’s time to do my own thing again.”

Imagine standing in the middle of NYC, engulfed by all its energy. That same pulse stems from Lawson’s music, in a more slow-burn sorta way. That’s the kind of music Lawson writes: with listening—real listening—in mind. Listeners get the feeling they’re participating in a musical conversation. That’s because—unlike just about every other solo pianist out there—Lawson’s music has a strong organic, improvisatory element to it. Chad Lawson is sort of like George Winston, but the audience Lawson’s going for probably won’t get that reference anyway. (Lawson has always made a habit of bringing jazz to new audiences, as if you couldn’t tell by his credits.)

All Lawson’s songs, in fact, give you the chance to hear the music, and simply exhale, to breathe. His music affords the time that most of us never take in the day to rest our mind—as if to say, things can be put on pause—even for just a few moments.

This album contains no booklet.