Singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega has tapped Nimbit on her upcoming acoustic release, according to details shared exclusively with Digital Music News this morning.  The album - dubbed Close Up, Vol. 1 - features acoustic reworkings of a number of earlier love songs, including "Marlene on the Wall," "Caramel," "Gypsy," and "Small Blue Thing."  Nimbit will employ its direct-to-fan platform to market and distribute the release across a variety of channels*.

That includes Barnes & Noble, another partner in the release.  Nimbit is also coordinating the release through Vega's Facebook page and suzannevega.com, critical parts of a broader strategy that also includes iTunes.  Additionally, Nimbit is planning a number of different configurations and packages.  "Suzanne Vega is indisputably the songwriter's songwriter," said Patrick Faucher, CEO of Nimbit.  "We are truly honored to collaborate with Suzanne on new ways for fans to experience her incredible catalog of work."

Vega is planning a series of Close Up releases, and future copies will probably include bigger hits like "Luka" and "Tom's Diner".  The series will span roughly two years, though understandably, the focus is currently on Vol. 1 .  "We're excited to partner with Nimbit, to develop Suzanne's connection directly with her fans," said Will Simon of Michael Hausman Management.

And why the acoustic motif?  In a recent New Yorker article, Vega talked about her label-free, direct-to-fan approach.  "I noticed that a lot of artists, like Carly Simon and Dar Williams, were recording acoustic versions of their songs, which is a way of owning the masters," Vega relayed.  "You don't own the original recordings, but at least you own something."

Nimbit currently counts 15,000 artist partnerships.  The company is planning to formally announce its Vega deal on Wednesday.

*Label Razor & Tie is also handling a range physical and digital distribution aspects on the release, according to information shared about a month after the publication of this article.  That introduces some potential overlap, though Nimbit indicated its focus remains on the Vega website and Facebook page.  This initial text of this story remains.