Local singer-songwriter Jeff Hanson dead at 31

These are the kind of blog posts that we hope we never have to write.

Jeff Hanson, a local singer known for his beautiful high-register voice and refined songwriting skills, was found dead in his apartment yesterday. According to his sister Sara, who contacted us via email, "It appears to be an accident in his apartment but we do not have any details just yet."

Hanson just released his third album, Madam Owl, last year via Kill Rock Stars, a highly-respected indie label that also nurtured Elliott Smith. He recently completed a tour of the West Coast and Scandinavia with Chris Koza, and had modest followings in cities around the world despite staying somewhat under the radar in Minnesota.
His music was delicate and beautiful. His high falsetto voice danced with complex acoustic guitar arrangements in a style that combined pop, classical, and folk. For more about Jeff Hanson's music, see the column I wrote last year at the time of Madam Owl's release, including an interview with Hanson himself.

We will post additional updates, including funeral arrangements, once more information becomes available.

For now, we'll leave you with his music.