Sara Watkins Confirms New Album ‘Under The Pepper Tree’ & Shares ‘Pure Imagination’ Cover

Sara Watkins announced a new album, Under The Pepper Tree, due out on March 26th through New West Records. Watkins also shared the single, “Pure Imagination,” a cover from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.

Sara recorded Under The Pepper Tree with families in mind and the song selection is geared toward children. Watkins tapped Tyler Chester (Sara Bareilles, Margaret Glaspy) to produce the record which contains songs Sara listened to as a child herself. Those tunes include the aforementioned “Pure Imagination” as well as The Beatles’ “Good Night,” “Moon River” (appearing on the classic film Breakfast At Tiffany’s and originally sung by Audrey Hepburn) and more.

Watkins also enlisted the help of her Nickel Creek and I’m With Her band mates. Nickel Creek’s Chris Thile and Sara’s brother Sean Watkins feature on “Blue Shadows on the Trail” off the soundtrack to the beloved 1986 comedy The Three Amigos. I’m With Her’s Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan sing with Sara on Roy Rogers & Sons of the Pioneers’ “Tumbling Tumbleweeds.” Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes guests on Harry Nilsson’s “Blanket for a Sail” while Roy Orbison’s “Beautiful Dreamer” sees a sit-in from David Garza. In line with the children’s record theme, Sara’s three-year old daughter helps her mom out on “Edelweiss” from The Sound Of Music.

“I want this album to be a place of calm, imagination, and relief,” Sara said in a statement. “Some days are perfect and things are a dream and make you feel like a superhero. And some days are just… such a challenge. I feel like this record has a place in both of those days, and I really hope that these recordings find a place in kids’ hearts, and become as special as they are to me.”

Under the Pepper Tree boasts colorful artwork along with a vinyl package children can interact with. Sara got the idea to include engaging material from vinyl records she’s bought for her daughter. Sara also spoke about the inspiration behind the record’s packaging concept:

You find some [records] that are really beautiful, and there are some Winnie the Pooh albums that we listen to on a daily basis, not just because of what they sound like, but because of what they look like. My daughter will look at the book while I put on the record. The pages don’t tell everything that’s in the song, but that doesn’t matter because sometimes she’s more looking and sometimes she’s more listening. It’s all there, it’s all connected. I want kids to experience my record that way, with all of those senses.

Additionally, Watkins sequenced the 15-song set with vinyl listeners in mind. “Although this album can certainly be enjoyed by listening all the way through, very early on in the planning I began thinking of it as something to be taken one side at a time,” she said. “I imagine someone dropping the needle on side A one night, and side B the next.”

“Pure Imagination” arrived with an accompanying music video, premiered by Variety, with artwork by Adam Sniezek. Watch the video below:

Under The Pepper Tree Tracklist:

1. Pure Imagination
2. The Second Star to the Right
3. Blue Shadows on the Trail (featuring Nickel Creek)
4. Edelweiss
5. Moon River
6. Under the Pepper Tree
7. When You Wish Upon A Star
8. Night Singing
9. La La Lu
10. Tumbling Tumbleweeds (featuring I’m With Her)
11. Blanket for a Sail
12. Beautiful Dreamer
13. Stay Awake
14. You’ll Never Walk Alone
15. Good Night