Category Archives: video

WATCH: Harris Hills is All About ‘ACTION, MAN’

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One of the true gems of the New Year so far belongs to Nashville-based rapper and producer Harris Hills, who combines the soulful sensibilities of Nashvllle with the quick-hitting, grime music influence of his native U.K. on his latest single, “ACTION MAN.”

The well-traveled artist — who also spent his teenage years in Washington state before coming to Music City — pairs slick production with a delivery that moves as swiftly as an independent artist on the rise. A true hustle anthem, “ACTION MAN” adds a fresh voice to Nashville’s already thriving hip hop scene, diversifying Music City’s sonic palette in a way sure to resonate with fans in any location.

The single is accompanied by a video, which features the adventures of Hills and his entourage traveling through many haunts on and around Lower Broadway.

Perhaps these visuals signal what we already know to be true: they’re taking over the city, and it’s only a matter of time.

LISTEN: Marcus King Waits for Love to ‘F*ck (His) Life Up Again’

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You may arleady be familiar with Marcus King as a fourth generation, mega-talented guitar virtuoso. Today, you’ll hear him as you never have before.

King explores his potent soul and R&B sensibilities on the new, Rick Rubin-produced track, “F*ck My Life Up Again.” The anguish in King’s voice is palpable, and the emotion put forth is enhanced by gorgeous string arrangements, shimmering organ tones, and a signature King guitar solo given new life, thanks to Rubin’s glitched-up studio wizardry.

Thematically, “F*ck My Life Up Again” pulls no punches, as King reflects on his tendency to chase unhealthy, codependent relationships.

“I was hesitant to record a song with such a foul word in it given my southern, Christian upbringing, but there were no other words I could find to capture the emotion I felt,” King said. “The anger associated with missing someone you know is only going to bring you pain, missing a relationship that only hurts you, (and) feeling hopeless to the point of wanting them to come back, because the only thing worse than the co-dependent hell you created together is the profound loneliness you feel.”

The single is accompanied by a lyric video whose dark, contemplative mood speaks to the emotion of the song. Watch it below!

WATCH: Aaron Lee Tasjan Examines the ‘Horror Of It All’

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Photo credit: Shervin Lainez

Aaron Lee Tasjan has made a career out of pushing the sonic envelope, but his forthcoming album, Stellar Evolution, promises to be his most innovative offering to date. The record — Tasjan’s fifth studio album — is said to “(connect) the far away universes of slacker indie, hyper pop, and new wave.”

And frankly, if the rest of the record is anything like lead single, “Horror Of It All,” sign us up for more!

The single is a glorious sonic melting pot; one whose new wave sensibilities feel nostalgic and futuristic, all at once. The tension of this glorious hybrid soundscape — which reaches a brilliant apex with an electrifying guitar solo shortly after the 2:20 mark — is representative of “the joy, confusions and humiliations of the queer adolescent experience.”

“When I think of what scares me the most about ‘being myself,’ is that I’ll get rejected for it. This song examines the concepts of both rejection and self-acceptance, through metaphors of childhood playground heartbreak and the dramatic nature of the teenage experience,” Tasjan noted. “The story is being told through the eyes of a young queer person. I wanted to use experiences from childhood in the song, because I feel like those heartaches are the ones that are truly everlasting. In life, we have to deal with and learn from the heartbreaks of our youth. Those lessons stay with us because the pain of the experience can be processed, but the memory of it happening always remains.”

“Horror Of It All” is accompanied by a stellar, Teen Wolf-inspired music video, lending a nod to Tasjan’s love of 80s cinema, as well as to the confusion of — and ultimately, triumph over — our formative teenage years. Watch it below!

WATCH: The Steel Wheels Learn We Can’t Always Be the ‘Hero’

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Photo credit: Mike Lee

What a powerful realization, to understand that we can’t always rescue the ones we love.

The Steel Wheels examine the limited power mere mortals possess on “Hero,” their new single from the forthcoming album, Sideways (Feb. 9). The single was inspired by frontman Trent Wagler trying to help one of his children through a mental health crisis, and the ensuing realization that we can’t always be the hero in everyone’s story.

“‘Hero’ was written to describe the way we all cast ourselves in the leading role of our story, while also touching on some of the particular pitfalls of a white, straight, cis-gendered man trying to ‘help’ or ‘fix’ situations where I just need to be in a supporting role,” shares Wagler. “I wrote this song in the midst of trying to help my child in a serious mental health crisis, needing to be OK with it being their story, and really taking a back seat to try to listen and understand exactly what they were needing in the moment, rather than what I needed to tell them about the situation they were in.” 

“Hero” is accompanied by a music video featuring the band in a contemplative dance routine opposite Wagler’s daughter and several of her friends, all of whom are enrolled in Virginia Commonwealth University’s dance and choreography program. At first, the two “troupes” perform separately, as if to illustrate the disconnect between the “fixer” and individual in crisis. In the end, however, the two sides come together, demonstrating the shared understanding that comes from listening to the needs of another.

LISTEN: On ‘Saving Grace,’ Alex Jordan Ain’t Too Proud to Beg

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Alex Jordan Saving Grace

Photo credit: Lauren Bettino

A love lost will lead a man to go to great lengths for redemption.

We see this story play out in the music video for “Saving Grace,” new single from Austin-based musical superhero Alex Jordan. Directed by award-winning duo Neilson Hubbard & Joshua Britt (John Prine, Jason Isbell), the video depicts a man trying to win back the love of his life by any means possible… while she consistently makes him aware that it’s too little, too late..

Despite the theme of heartbreak, the track itself is a timeless, lively slice of Americana. Produced by four-time GRAMMY-winner Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and mastered by seven-time GRAMMY-winner Jim Scott (The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Sting), “Saving Grace” features a glorious horn arrangement and Jordan’s powerful vocals. These elements — combined with lush keyboard, organ, and guitar layers — provide a bright tone to the affair, befitting the comedic elements contained within the video.

“Only a few weeks before we solidified plans to make the record, I recall sitting in my bedroom on a cool night and jamming aimlessly on my Taylor until a verse appeared,” Jordan said. “I worked out the remaining parts of the song over the next few nights. I spent perhaps the most time on this song with lyrical edits, working with Kevin Russell (Shinyribs), who served as my lyrical spirit guide for much of the record. Closing the record out with the strong horn section and wailing vocals felt incredibly satisfying. I knew from the first take that this record was going to be a blast to make.” 

As it turns out, “Saving Grace” is just as enjoyable a listen! And, in even more exciting news, it’s included on Jordan’s forthcoming full-length album, Queen Kerosene, scheduled to release on all streaming platforms on Friday, March 8.

Get ready for the big day with “Saving Grace” below!

Nashville Meets Bethlehem with Brontë Fall

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The last time we checked in with Teri Bracken of Brontë Fall was 2020. Touring had come to a halt, and Teri had begun working on the songs that would become her latest EP, Winter, informed by life in transition during the pandemic.

We’ve come full circle, and Teri is hitting the road to join us in Bethlehem, PA at our Nashville Meets Bethlehem songwriter night at SteelStacks. For Teri, this full circle moment brings her back to her college town as an alumna of Lehigh University, whose musical beginnings took place just a few blocks up the street. Check in to learn about the journey that has led here!

This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at Helping Our Music Evolve, Nashville, TN.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

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Heal Hop is on the Come Up

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T.R.A.N.E. Spitta is a hip hop artist, entrepreneur, and music business genius who is one of the architects behind The Come Up Tour, an upcoming tour set to hit several cities this summer and fall at select cities throughout the United States. The tour aims to give emerging hip hop artists valuable professional tour experience — alongside a dose of industry knowledge that will help them further their careers and leave an impact.

Learn more about the tour, as well as valuable information about performance rights, the festival circuit, and more!

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Change the Way Forward

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As we reflect on the first half of 2023, there is an opportunity to make second half adjustments.

Let’s chat about some of the lessons we’ve learned at UMC, and how they inform our journey toward greater impact.

Learn more about UMC Coaching⁠

Theme song: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

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