Tag: Video premiere

WATCH: Jim Kweskin, “You’re Just In Love”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Jim Kweskin
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “You’re Just In Love” (featuring Fiona Kweskin)
Album: Never Too Late
Release Date: January 26, 2024
Label: StorySound Records

In Their Words: “‘You’re Just In Love’ was written by Irving Berlin, who wrote it for the 1950 Broadway musical Call Me Madam. It’s been recorded many times, but never like this – we do it almost as a folk song. I love the counterpoint, the two different words, and the melodies going on at the same time. Irving Berlin, of course, is a famous American popular music composer. He’s written songs that everybody knows, like ‘God Bless America’ and ‘White Christmas,’ but in fact, he wrote hundreds of hit songs for Broadway musicals, movies, and pop records. He’s one of my favorite composers. And for me, what could be better than a grandfather singing to his granddaughter about what it feels like to be in love?” – Jim Kweskin

Track Credits:

Jim Kweskin – Vocal & Guitar
Fiona Kweskin – Vocal
Cindy Cashdollar – Baritone National Tricone
Suzy Thompson – Fiddle
Sean Staples – Mandolin
Richie Guerin – Mandola
Matthew Berlin – Bass

Video Credits: Directed and edited by Lauren Balthrop
Assisted by James Paul Mitchell and Lawson White
Additional concert footage filmed and edited by Wayne Griffith

Photo Credit: Don West

WATCH: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley with Molly Tuttle, “John Deere Tractor” (A Tribute to the Judds)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley and Molly Tuttle
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee; Jonesborough, Tennessee; Palo Alto, California
Song: “John Deere Tractor”
Album: A Tribute To The Judds
Release Date: October 27, 2023

In Their Words: “It is an incredible honor to be included in this amazing tribute to The Judds. I grew up listening to these songs. I’ve always been a huge fan of The Judds and of that sound that they created with their producer Brent Maher. And ‘John Deere Tractor’ is one of my all-time favorite songs, so when we were asked to perform this song with the great Molly Tuttle, we of course jumped at the opportunity. I’m so proud to be a part of this album, and I’m so excited for everyone to hear it. Thank you to The Judds for creating such wonderful music that we’ll all be listening to forever.” – Trey Hensley

“I remember hearing The Judds on the radio for the first time — it blew my mind! It was a musical oasis on the radio, that’s for sure. As a kid growing up playing bluegrass, I loved their sound with the ACOUSTIC guitars(!), and the Dobros that were front and center in the mix (great production by Brent Maher!), and of course, their harmonies and song choices were impeccable. And Wynonna, what a voice! So strong, an amazing tone… ‘John Deere Tractor’ was a big song for me because my bluegrass hero, Larry Sparks, did a great version of it. I was really impressed when I saw that The Judds recorded it and loved their version also. It was such a thrill to record this awesome song, and I love the vocal performances by Trey Hensley and Molly Tuttle on this track. They hit it out of the park.” – Rob Ickes

Photo Credit: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley by Jeff Fasano; Molly Tuttle by Bobbi Rich.

WATCH: The Steel Wheels, “Yes I Know”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The Steel Wheels
Hometown: Harrisonburg, Virginia
Song: “Yes I Know”
Album: Sideways
Release Date: February 9, 2024
Label: Big Ring Records

In Their Words: “‘Yes I Know’ dips into that feeling when you can see the moment you’re in with someone else as a beautiful moment, while simultaneously seeing the future – that no relationship is static. Is ‘forever’ a useful idea to comfort our fears? Maybe, or maybe it can be inspiring to remember all relationships will eventually end. For me, there are times of year when forever feels more real than others: the heat of the summer, when the days last 16 hours and feel full of forever energy, while the month or so of leaves changing in the fall always confronts me with change and the passage of time.

“The video for the song started as more of a 2 week autumnal leaf study. I live in Harrisonburg, Virginia, down the block from a beautiful city park. I wanted to try to film the changing of the leaves, so I started recording the same video every day for a couple of weeks in October/November. The video logs my small daily nature walks and the transformative show of the seasonal shifts.” – Trent Wagler

Photo Credit: Mike Lee

WATCH: Never Come Down, “Better Late Than Never” (Live)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Never Come Down
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Song: “Better Late Than Never” (Live)
Album: Better Late Than Never (Live)
Release Date: December 15, 2023

In Their Words: “This past summer we found ourselves performing, teaching, and camping at a racetrack – Agassiz Speedway in British Columbia. Why? We were scheduled to play NimbleFingers Music Festival, but it had to be relocated due to wildfires raging in the vicinity of Sorrento, BC, where the festival usually takes place.

“Salvaging the event was an exercise in adaptability – making proverbial lemonade from lemons with a great group of fellow human beings. There was also no way we were gonna pass up pickin’ on a racetrack. The re-imagined version of the festival was unique and exciting in its own special way. We hope the same can be said of this new take on an old song of ours.” – Brian Alley, banjo

Photo Credit: Julia Varga
Video Credit: Trent Freeman

WATCH: Sully Bright, “Dark” (Live in Appalachia Video Series)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Sully Bright
Hometown: Forest City, North Carolina; currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Dark”
Album: Darling, Wake Up
Release Date: October 13, 2023

In Their Words: “‘Dark’ is a special song for me. It’s about my struggles with mental health, specifically Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The song tells my journey of learning how to see the light shine through the window; how to push past and break through the darkness of your own bedroom.

“In the video, I got the chance to sing it in a dark room with a window.” – Sully Bright

Photo Credit: Wonderfilmco
Video Credit: Seth and Jenna Herlich, Wonderfilmco

WATCH: Onoleigh, “Walls”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Onoleigh
Hometown: Mahomet, Illinois
Song: “Walls”
Release Date: November 29, 2023

In Their Words: “This song is personal for me. It’s about going through ups and downs throughout childhood and growing up. There were a lot of tough times in my own life where I felt societal or personal pressure to be someone that I wasn’t, and my childhood bedroom was my safe space. It was the place where I could reflect and think about who I was and who I was supposed to become. So, the idea that the walls could hear what I was thinking and could watch me grow up was something that I wanted to write about. I took this to my co-writers John Oates and Nathan Chapman, and we came up with this beautiful song that tells my own personal journey, and I feel like others will be able to relate.” – Onoleigh

Photo Credit: Allister Ann

WATCH: Hannah Kaminer, “Heavy on the Vine”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Hannah Kaminer
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina (technically Black Mountain, North Carolina)
Song: “Heavy on the Vine”
Album: Heavy on the Vine
Release Date: November 17, 2023 (single); January 5, 2024 (album)

In Their Words: “Over the last few years I started gardening and going to the community garden to learn whatever I could. One day in late summer I showed up and the gardener in charge told me we had to take out all the tomatoes and summer plants. I was stunned because all of those plants were still going strong, in full bloom. She gently let me know that it was time: If we did not take the summer plants out, there would be no fall planting and no fall harvest. Pulling the tomatoes out was a spiritual experience – letting go of one thing so another could grow – but it’s a lot harder when it’s not just tomatoes that you have to let go of. This song is about those moments when your vision narrows and you realize that only a few things in life are actually important, and you find yourself bargaining with the universe for the one thing you want but can’t have.” – Hannah Kaminer

Track Credits: Hannah Kaminer – vocals, guitar
Kevin Williams – keys
Ross Montsinger – drums
Melissa Hyman – bass, harmony vocals
Jackson Dulaney – pedal steel

Photo Credit: John Dupre
Video Credits: Produced by Old Home Place Recordings
Director – Aaron Stone
Audio Engineer – Mike Johnson
Photography – John Dupre
Executive Producers – Tim & Susan Griffin

WATCH: The Montvales, “Lou”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The Montvales
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee, but currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio
Song: “Lou”
Album: Born Strangers
Release Date: February 2, 2024

In Their Words: “I spent a year teaching English in a small town in France. My baby niece came to visit during that time and I got to take her to the ocean for the first time. I showed her beaches, vineyards, and forests.

“Sometimes being far away makes troubling news of home feel more vivid. Threats to American public land felt especially heartbreaking as I watched my niece grow to love the land for the first time. I wrote this song imagining a future in which she gets to love all the mountains, beaches, and forests that I love. It felt like the only acceptable option was a world passed on to her intact.” – Sally Buice

Track Credits: Produced by Mike Eli LoPinto
Engineered by Sean Sullivan
Mixed by Jake Davis
Mastered by Kevin Butler

Photo Credit: Suzi Kern
Video Credit: Contrary Western

WATCH: High Fidelity, “Are You Lost in Sin?”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: High Fidelity
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Are You Lost in Sin?”
Album: Music In My Soul
Release Date: September 15, 2023
Label: Rebel Records

In Their Words: “‘Are You Lost in Sin?’ is one that Kurt Stephenson brought to the table. Collectively, we have a special affinity for the early Jim & Jesse Capitol recordings, and High Fidelity has recorded several selections from that era over the years. Here, Jeremy and Kurt even emulate Jesse’s mandolin breaks on the guitar and banjo respectively!

“Incorporating material and stylistic choices from Jim & Jesse has always been a core part of what we do in High Fidelity, and every time we have recorded one of their songs, Jeremy and I couldn’t wait to share it with Jesse McReynolds. Jesse was so supportive of us, and through the years that Jeremy and I were blessed to work with him in the Virginia Boys, he even featured us singing the Jim & Jesse songs we’d recorded on the Opry and beyond!

“This song holds extra special meaning to us as the last Jim & Jesse song we recorded while Jesse was still with us on Earth. We hope this video serves to bring to remembrance Jesse and his amazing legacy while bringing to focus the striking message behind this beautiful Jim & Jesse composition.” – Corrina Rose Logston Stephens

Track Credits: Written by Jim & Jesse McReynolds

Jeremy Stephens – Guitar and Lead Vocal
Corrina Rose Logston Stephens – Fiddle and Harmony Vocal
Kurt Stephenson – Banjo and Harmony Vocal
Daniel Amick – Mandolin
Vickie Vaughn – Bass

Photo Credit: Amy Richmond
Video Credit: Produced and filmed by Warren Swann

WATCH: Youth in a Roman Field, “Might As Well Have Gone to the Movies”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Youth in a Roman Field
Hometown: Queens, New York City, New York
Song: “Might As Well Have Gone To The Movies”
Album: Get Caught Trying (Extended Edition)
Release Date: November 10, 2023
Label: Better Company Records

In Their Words: “This song – and the phrase – illustrate my takeaway after what felt like another let-down of a relationship; a ‘wise-mind,’ more poetic interpretation of ‘well, damn, that didn’t work out either.’ The lyrics center the conflict between fantasy and reality, confronting the parts of my romantic nature that lend themselves to delusion and magical thinking. ‘Going to the movies’ represents the alternative life and relationship I had envisioned for myself, and has come to represent the alternative world many of us find ourselves in, looking for answers or easier narratives than actually exist. I also meant it literally, as in: ‘I could’ve seen this coming, shoulda just gone to the movies and saved myself all this heartache.’ It ultimately accepts the disappointments of unrequited romantic love, which paves the way to accept ourselves despite mistakes we’ve made or cycles we’ve repeated.” – Claire Wellin, Youth in a Roman Field

Track Credits:

Performed by Youth in a Roman Field:
Claire Wellin – vocals
Tiffany Topol – vocals
Cassidy Stirtz – vocals
Scott Stangland – guitar
Jamie Mohamdein – upright bass

Photo Credit: Saw Photography
Video Credit: Directed by Claire Wellin, Tiffany Topol, Cassidy Stirtz, Scott Stangland, and Jamie Mohamdein. Edited by Scott Stangland and Tiffany Topol.