Before You See Lukas Nelson at the Majestic Theatre, Here Are 5 Things Fans Can’t Stop Talking About. ML
Lukas Nelson Steps Into His Own Spotlight with New Solo Album American Romance
After nearly two decades leading Promise of the Real — the band that backed Neil Young and carved out a strong reputation of its own — Lukas Nelson is striking out on a new path. The 36-year-old musician, long known as Willie Nelson’s son, has now stepped fully into his own artistic identity with the release of American Romance, his first true solo album, out this June.
Produced by longtime friend Shooter Jennings, the 12-track record feels like a turning point for Nelson, who describes it as both “a love letter to the road” and “a reflection of everything I’ve been through.” The album includes collaborations with rising Americana favorite Sierra Ferrell on the song “Friend in the End” and closes with “You Were It,” the very first song Nelson ever wrote — at just 11 years old — which originally appeared on his father’s 2004 album It Will Always Be.
“I was on the school bus one day when the melody came to me,” Nelson recalls. “When I played it for Dad, he liked it so much he put it on his album. That gave me confidence early on. Including it now, on my first solo record, feels like coming full circle.”
For Nelson, releasing music under his own name marks more than just a rebranding — it’s a creative rebirth. Speaking via Zoom from New York, he explains that leaving Promise of the Real was less about breaking away and more about evolution.
“The name Promise of the Real got so tied to Neil Young,” he says. “I love those years, but I wanted to make sure I could do something different — something that felt uniquely mine. This album gave me that freedom.”
That freedom manifests in a noticeably gentler tone. American Romance trades the heavy electric jams of Promise of the Real for rich storytelling, emotional restraint, and sonic intimacy.
“I was in a writing flow where the songs just came out softer, more about lyrics and vocals than rocking out,” Nelson says with a laugh. “Since then, I’ve written a bunch of rockers — but this was what needed to come out first.”
Much of American Romance draws inspiration from Nelson’s transient lifestyle — splitting his time between Nashville and Maui, constantly moving between studio sessions, tour buses, and airports.
“Travel has defined my life,” he admits. “It’s probably why I’m not married with kids yet. That movement is a romance of its own — there’s happiness, heartbreak, loneliness, and beauty. I wanted the album to capture all of that.”
Even as he promotes American Romance, Nelson already has new creative ventures brewing. He’s written 30 songs with Nashville songwriter Ernest for an upcoming film project and recently co-wrote a song with Ben West and Laci Kaye Booth that he describes as “Radiohead meets country.”
“I’ve got a lot of exciting stuff coming,” he says. “Movies, music — and definitely more albums. The songs just keep coming.”
Fans can catch Lukas Nelson live on Wednesday, October 22, when he performs at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit.
