Rock magazine editors at SPIN recently named Lance Cowan’s 2025 sophomore release Against the Grain one of their favorite albums of the year, writing: “Last year, Lance Cowan proved that a veteran Americana PR man could make an album on par with those of his clients. This year, he proved that he could beat the sophomore slump. The mid-’70s country-rock instrumentation and vocal harmonies remain, but they’re at the service of sharper hooks, hooks that would’ve embedded themselves in the Top 40 back when millions were checking into the Hotel California.”

Cowan, who spent decades working behind the scenes with some of the country’s finest songwriters—including Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark and Michael Martin Murphey—released his surprise debut So Far, So Good in 2024. The album quickly earned praise from critics and peers, establishing him not only as a champion of great music, but as a compelling artist in his own right.

This summer Cowan will release his third album in three years, The Air That You Breathe.  Cowan co-wrote seven of the 11 original songs with a talented lineup of collaborators, including Janis Ian ("When He Was Here"), David Mallett ("Closer To Truth"), friend and industry insider Karen Leipziger (the title track), frequent partner Terry Clayton ("Where'd They Go," "The One You Love," "The Road"), and Miguel Salas ("William Cooper Smith").

Produced by Scott Paschall and recorded at Nashville’s famed Sound Emporium, The Air That You Breathe features musicians Dan Dugmore (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt), Pat McGrath (Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood), Dave Pomeroy (Don Williams, Elton John), Phil Madeira (Emmylou Harris, Phil Keaggy), Bryan Owings (Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams), Chip Davis (Alabama, Dolly Parton), Billy Davis (Dolly Parton, Don Williams), and Michael Spriggs (Kenny Rogers, Elton John). Mandolin master Sam Bush joined in on four songs, and celebrated Texan Jimmie Dale Gilmore lent his backing vocals to "William Cooper Smith."