Yusuf Islam -- the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens -- is readying a secular album said to recall his "straightforward troubadour days" in late Spring via Universal, featuring a collection of locally connected artists.
Yusuf's yet-untitled set: country great Dolly Parton, erstwhile Wreckers voice Michelle Branch and pop-metal survivor Gunnar Nelson.
"This one was really a result of me writing a lot of songs and being kind of inspired again," Yusuf tells Billboard. "After I recorded (2006's An Other Cup, his return to secular music after more than a quarter-century break), people just wanted to hear me do a lot of simple stuff, just with the guitar."
Yusuf came to Pro Tools thanks to his son, who performs under the name Yoriyos and encouraged him to play with recordings and a computer in his home studio in London. "He's got such ears," Yusuf says. "I could understand what he wanted to create - that journey than the album can take you on."
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