Today’s Music Video Monday world premiere is ready to take our country back!
Longtime ambassador of Memphis music John Kilzer is prepping a new album for 2019. Scars was recorded with Grammy-winning producer Matt Ross-Spang and a band of Memphis all-stars that included Steve Selvidge, Rick Steff, Steve Potts, George Suffolk, and Dave Smith.
The album is set for release in January 2019 on Archer Records, and the first single “American Blues” will drop on November 23rd. Kilzer says the protest song is “Jangly, happy, almost languid. It hides the stringency of the lyric.”
He believes musicians must make political songs that both speak to the moment and to eternity. “I hope it has enough polyvalence to last. I think the prototype of the protest song is ‘For What It’s Worth’. It’s germane in any time period.”
The video is directed by Laura Jean Hocking, who has previously done award-winning work for Kilzer. “I was inspired by the courage of the survivors of the Parkland, Florida, shooting, and the wave of activism they inspired in young people.” says Hocking. “I was excited to work with Janay Kelley. I saw her short film ‘The Death of Hip Hop’ at the Indie Memphis Youth Festival and thought she was very dynamic onscreen. I needed that energy for this video.”
Here’s world premiere of “The American Blues”:
Music Video Monday: John Kilzer
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