What do Montreal, Peekskill, and Entertainment Weekly Have In Common?

It had been an amazing video shoot, and I had just left Montreal.

Heading out of Montreal

I had gone up there to work on the production of the video for my song “Us” from my first album Story. It was a Montreal-based team led by the wonderful choreographer Geneviève C. Ferron and my good friend and video producer extraordinaire Joshua Sandler.

I had just driven outside of the city proper, heading south on whatever road goes into New York, when I got a melody in my head. So I turned on my phone cam..

So far, nothing unusual here.

But then, figuring I had hours to go, I decided to start developing it right then and there.

Here’s the unusual part:

I wrote basically the whole song in the next half hour or so, while driving.

This never happens.

I write at home (or wherever I am, but seated, with a guitar), usually developing a part on the instrument, then coming up with melodies and words.

I then proceeded (miraculously) to somehow take my own advice and had one of the most transcendent, care-free car rides home I’ve ever had. It’s still a beautiful memory.

And this song ended up being the opening track on the record, as well as the opener of the album release campaign.

I guess it was good luck because it was also the first time my childhood / adolescent monthly magazine subscription, Guitar World Magazine, premiered a song of mine.

And also the first time the national culture mag giant Entertainment Weekly premiered a video of mine. (Thanks GW & EW!!)

It also happens to be the reason the album cover art looks the way it does.

Original photo

Album cover

So anyway, here is the official video, which premiered at Entertainment Weekly.

I hope you enjoy!
David

P.S. The video was shot in and around the lovely rustic roads of Peekskill, NY with my wonderful bandmates, a very talented crew, and even a little cameo of my producer, the one and only Godfrey Diamond (see if you can spot him!).