by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’s with HAVILAH TOWER

Sometimes, the most resonant songs emerge not from a single moment of inspiration but from a long, quiet process of rediscovery.

“Open Wide” is the latest single from cinematic folk-pop artist Havilah Tower, and it is one such song – a reflective and emotionally charged meditation on what it means to outgrow the life you thought you wanted. Tower explores the quiet reckoning that comes when ambition gives way to presence, and when clarity begins to form in the spaces we often overlook.

The journey to Open Wide began with an unexpected spark: an article about her alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin, hiring their first Songwriter-in-Residence.

That artist, Darden Smith, would go on to mentor Tower through a series of creative breakthroughs, helping her reconnect with her voice in new ways. What followed was a groundbreaking collaboration across borders – Tower and her longtime trio partnered with international music startup Hall Up to bring the track to life, working with UK-based producer David A. Griffiths and Hollywood engineer Adam Freeman to shape the sound.

“Open Wide” marks a shift not just in Tower’s sound, but in her storytelling. It’s the product of reflection, resilience and a willingness to see – and sing – the truth.

1.Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?

Our newest single, Open Wide, is a cinematic folk-pop song that explores what happens when you’ve built up a “dream life” but it turns out to be different than you thought or want anymore.

Open Wide is a raw, lyrical reflection on trading illusion for truth—and finding the courage to be honest with yourself on what really matters to you, which often are the simple things around you all along.

Or you can stream or buy Open Wide on your favorite music platform: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/havilahtower/open-wide

2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

For the Open Wide music video, we wanted to bring the core message of the song, showing the contrast of someone leading a seemingly successful life on the surface while also struggling.

In the music video for “Open Wide”, you follow a central character as she rises to fame through her music, a life she worked hard to create. Even though it all looks beautiful on the outside, she is struggling on the inside missing the core, fundamental things in her life she grew up like spending time with family, true connections with friends and a sense of herself.

Central to where we meet the main character in the story is an unraveling of this supposed “dream life”. It’s through this unraveling that she breaks through to something more meaningful, her own truth and direction – all things that take courage to embrace when you’re leading such a seemingly successful life. This shift plays out in the music video as a parallel between her adult self and her childhood memories that she starts to reconnect with.

It’s a reminder that all the glitters is not gold, and that sometimes our hardest moments can be doorways into something more truer and more meaningful. Hence the lyrics: “Unraveling minds open wide”.

3. What was the process of making the video?

In making Open Wide, we wanted to push the envelope of leveraging technology to tell the story. We tend to embrace a “test and learn” mentality so we decided to leverage some of the latest AI tools, like Runway, and build out the narrative portion of the story, which involved a lot of hours of fine-tuning prompts and then of course, editing the clips to tell the story. Through this work, we built out the journey of our central character.

Simultaneously, we wanted to ground the video in this world with a performance from our band so we conducted multiple filmings in order to capture each of us to interweave throughout the video, mainly featuring Havilah Tower as the primary narrator who is singing Open Wide.

There is a subtle moment that happens at the beginning and end of the music video, starting off with what appears to be a forced smile but ending with a more real, authentic smile. The smile bookends the journey of going from a seemingly successful life to truer success of being connected to yourself and making choices that are actually fulfilling.

Find out more about Havilah Tower on her Website

05.27.25

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3Q’s WITH STIGMA

Emerging from the heart of Germany’s modern rock scene, Stigma are not here to chase trends.

With their debut album Second Chance on the horizon, the band is carving out a sound that is both emotionally raw and powerfully cinematic in sound.

Their latest single, “Faraway,” serves as a stunning entry point. It’s a brooding, confessional track steeped in guilt, isolation and that quiet ache of waiting for redemption.

But what sets Stigma apart isn’t just the intensity of their music. It is the honesty behind it. For their first official video, the band turned the camera inward and cpatured not a scripted narrative, but the real-time journey of recording “Faraway” in a remote mountain studio.

We sat down with the band to talk about the origins of “Faraway,” the making of the video, and what fans can expect from Second Chance. What followed was a candid, heartfelt conversation about facing the past, embracing vulnerability, and holding out hope for what’s still to come:

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?

Faraway is about guilt, isolation, and the hope for redemption – someone exiled, trapped by both physical walls and inner regrets, holding on to the distant dream of being forgiven. It’s not about escape, but about waiting to be freed. That emotional weight runs through every line of the song.

We wanted to show that tension honestly. The video shifts between two sides: the intense, emotional live performance while recording the track, and the quiet, raw moments behind the scenes. No drama, no acting – just what really happened.

That contrast brings authenticity. It’s not a concept video – it’s a feeling. A haunting pull toward something just out of reach – but with the quiet certainty that the day will come.

2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

We approached the video like a short documentary – no actors, no script, just what actually happened. The storyline behind the scenes follows our real journey: arriving at the studio in the mountains, stepping out of the car, setting up gear, getting feedback from our producer, tuning, laughing, working. It’s that quiet buildup before the storm – a glimpse into the atmosphere that shaped the song.

Visually, the contrast was key. We alternated these raw, candid moments with close-up shots of us performing Faraway in the studio – not for the camera, but for real.

That mix gives the video its pulse. It’s less about acting out a plot and more about letting the setting, the process, and the people tell the story. The goal was simple: to make you feel the song, not just hear it.

3. What was the process of making the video?

I brought in Mattia Mariotti – a skilled video producer and guitarist for Philipp Burger (Frei.Wild) – to film our time in the studio. I asked him to capture everything without restriction. No script, no posing – just real moments. I trusted his eye and gave him full freedom to document whatever unfolded.

After several days of shooting, he told me, “There’s a lot of material here.” That’s when I had the idea to turn it into our first official video. What made it click was the natural rhythm of the footage – the way the calm, intimate behind-the-scenes shots contrasted with the explosive, emotional performance scenes. It mirrored exactly what Faraway does musically: restrained, confessional verses that build into a powerful, wide-open chorus.

That structure became the backbone of the edit. The camera follows the same emotional arc as the song itself – from inner conflict to a burst of longing and release.

That’s how the video found its form: through truth, not planning.

Follow Stigma on their Website

05.19.25

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’s WITH MADAME Z

In a world increasingly defined by crisis – climate change, social division, political dysfunction, and a profound disconnection from nature and one another – art and music can serve as both mirror and medicine.

For Madame Z , music isn’t just an outlet. It is a lifeline. A writer at heart, and a musician by calling, she brings a deep emotional honesty to her work, balancing the stark realities of the present moment with a fierce and unwavering belief in our collective potential to heal and transform.

Her latest release “Save The World” is a heartfelt plea for unity in the face of collapse. It is a song born out of sorry and yet steeped in hope. A reminder that while we may feel powerless as individuals, together, we still hold the power to change course.

In this Exclusive Interview, Madame Z opens up about the inspiration behind the track, the challenges of being a one woman creative force, and why the video’s poignant visuals are just as essential as the lyrics themselves.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in
this way?

It can be deeply disheartening to reflect on the state of the world – the pollution, the relentless destruction of our planet on so many levels, the poisoning of our oceans and waterways, the mass extinction of countless species (thanks, unsurprisingly, to human activity), the reality of climate change (whether some choose to acknowledge it or not), and the ever-present forces of bigotry, racism, war, genocide, political dysfunction, division, and hatred. The list feels endless – and it is catastrophic. The energy of the planet itself seems to echo this pain.

As Einstein once said, “Man invented the atomic bomb, but no mouse would ever construct a mousetrap.” In so many ways, we are engineering our own downfall – driven by capitalism, greed, and a profound disconnection from one another and from the Earth. This song, I believe, speaks volumes without needing much explanation. Yes, it’s painful to witness and experience all of this. It can feel overwhelming, even hopeless. But the message at the heart of it is powerful: we need to come together. It’s not too late. We still have the ability to make a difference – even if it’s just by being a light in the darkness and holding on to the possibility of change.

Similarly, the video itself highlights much despair and destruction but also intertwines moments of hope and potential. The current state of the world may feel bleak but there is potential for humanity to turn it around.

2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

As noted, it coincides with the lyrics themselves. Despair (which many of us have been feeling as of late) but looking to the future of possibility. As one person, I may not be able to change the entire world but TOGETHER we can make an impact.

3. What was the process of making the video?

I chose to use AI for this video because, simply put, I’m a one-woman operation.

I have three kids and a demanding executive-level corporate job that often spills into evenings and weekends. Music isn’t my primary or even secondary priority in terms of time – but it’s essential to who I am. It’s as vital to me as the air I breathe. At my core, I’m a writer. Music is one of the few ways I can fully express the emotions and thoughts I often struggle to put into words. But with the limited time I have, I have to rely on the tools available to me to help bring my ideas to life.

My publisher has been encouraging me to pair videos with my releases, but since it’s just me doing all of this, I lean on resources that make that possible. I’d love to shoot and produce videos from scratch – but right now, that’s just not a realistic option. So, I do what I can. I created short video snippets and pieced them together to help visualize the message I wanted to share through this song. It might not be perfect – but perfection is overrated anyway.

What matters most is the message, the emotion and the intention behind it.

Stay connected with Madame Z:

Website / Instagram / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music

02.14.25

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’S WITH ANDREW STONEHOME

Andrew Stonehome isn’t just making music. He is creating experiences that resonate with the listener on a deeper level. His latest single “Then You Fly” is an introspective conversation with his inner child, capturing the emotional complexities of growth and the power in vulnerability.

As an artist who writes, performs, and produces his own music, Andrew’s dedication to authenticity is evident.

With “Then You Fly”, he takes that honesty a step further, translating the song’s deeply personal message into a striking visual.

In this interview, Andrew opens up about the inspiration behind the track, the challenges of balancing emotion with melody and the creative process behind his latest music video.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?

This song is a conversation with my inner child, whom I’ve tried to protect for so much of my life. Recently, I’ve had to confront some of my deepest fears around vulnerability, and this song feels like a snapshot of my thoughts on that.

When I wrote the lyrics, I dug deep and allowed myself to get emotional, which isn’t usually my approach. Each sentiment in the song feels incredibly personal to me. This is the song I feel most connected to – more than anything else I’ve written. If someone were to ask me for an example of my music, this would be the song I’d share.

Because this song is so personal and important to me, I wanted to create a video for it that I could be as proud of as I am of the song itself.

2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

I enjoy creating videos and the creative challenges that come with it. I wanted to visually show that I play all of the instruments in my music. My vision was to create the look of an entire band, where I’m every member, performing live on stage. Initially, I had hoped to make it look like there was a large gospel choir, with me as every member, alongside the band. However, due to time and technical limitations, I had to settle for three background singers.

I watched some other videos to see how they approached things, and one that was particularly helpful was Brandi Carlile’s video for “The Story.”

It was useful to notice little details, like how she looked directly at the camera for some shots.

3. What was the process of making the video?

I came up with the concept for the video and asked my friend Vince Radostitz, a talented photographer and videographer, if he’d be willing to film it for me. To test the concept, I filmed a rough version at home and then shared the demo with Vince so he could get a sense of what I was envisioning. We met to brainstorm further, and I visited a few locations to decide where to film. I also created a document with a plan and agenda for the filming day, including a detailed shot list, specifying which outfits I’d wear for each part and how long each segment should take.

We filmed at the Patricia Reser Center for the Performing Arts, which is close to my house.

We started loading in at 10 a.m., and it took a few hours for the crew to set up the lighting, so we didn’t actually start filming until almost 2 p.m. We finished around 6 p.m., and I was relieved that we managed to capture most of what I’d hoped for. It took me a couple of weeks to edit everything, which was fun because Vince did such a great job of getting fantastic footage. I was really happy with how it turned out.

I also created a “Making of” video that offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the video was made, and I’m just as proud of it as I am of the final video itself:

01.31.25

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’S WITH MASSEY

“Box of Rain” has always been a song that carries an emotional weight, deeply intertwined with themes of love, loss, and the healing power of music.

Originally written by Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh as a poignant farewell to his father, it has since become one of the band’s most cherished and resonant tracks.

When Phil Lesh passed away in October of 2024, MASSEY found himself reflecting on the profound connection he has with this song. In collaboration with Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon, he has created a new, rock-infused version of “Box of Rain” that pays tribute to Lesh’s legacy while breathing new life into the timeless classic.

Released today, this re-imagined rendition is much more than a cover. This is a wonderful tribute to one of MASSEY’s all-time favorite songs and a celebration of the enduring spirit of the Grateful Dead.

Working alongside an exceptional group of musicians including Charlie Wooton, Daniel Groover, Peter Oravetz, Michael Lemmler, and Doug Belote, MASSEY brought his vision to life at Dockside Studio, with the track being elevated by the mastery of JoeBaby Michaels and Abbey Road Studios.

But the journey didn’t end with the recording. The release is accompanied by a vibrant music video that allows listeners to experience “Box of Rain” in a new visual context. Directed by Jim Mimna, the video complements the song’s messages of connection and healing while also inviting a new generation of fans to discover the beauty in this timeless piece.

In this interview, MASSEY opens up about the inspiration behind reinterpreting “Box of Rain”, the collaborative process with Vince Herman and the emotional journey of revisiting a song so deeply connected to both personal and wider themes:

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?

This is a cover of the Grateful Dead song Box of Rain. It is one of the few Dead songs written by bass player Phil Lesh, who passed away a couple months ago, just as we were preparing to record all the tracks for the upcoming MASSEY debut album: Reason For Being. JoeBaby Michaels, the founder and head of my label, Bent River Records, who is also my producer, had instructed that it would be a good idea to include a cover.

When Phil passed I immediately thought of Box of Rain. It is just about my very favorite Grateful Dead song. It has always struck me in a deeply profound and emotional way. And with Phil’s passing, I thought it was very appropriate. We did agree it should be a more edgy rock version, one of my natural styles, which I feel we accomplished, while still totally respecting and paying homage to the original, and Phil.

It’s important to note that this is a duet with Vince Herman, a founding member of Leftover Salmon. A long time friend of JoeBaby’s, they had never worked together, and they agreed this would be a perfect, heartfelt song for them, and me, to collaborate. Vince is one of the nicest, sweetest, rockstars you’ll ever meet. And I believe our work together on this song shines the light.

2. What inspired this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

The song was written by Phil as his dad was dying. I believe it’s a metaphor of love, loss, and the personal peace and healing that’s available to all of us. It’s very beautiful. And I was always emotionally affected by it, as with much of the music I deeply love, from the actual music first, even more than the words.

3. What was the process of making this video?

The video is so excellently done by our videographer Jim Mimna. He combined the studio footage of me and Vince, as well as the amazing players in our band: Charlie Wooton on bass, Peter Oravetz on lead guitar, Daniel Groover on guitar, Michael Lemmler on keys, and Doug Belote on drums; Paired with very effusive illustrated images that, like the song lyrics, suggest deep emotional meaning but allow for interpretation by the viewer.

12.11.24

by Jane Lambert

Video Voyaguer: 3 Q’s with The IT City

This holiday season, The It City bring a fresh take on festive nostalgia with their heartwarming music video for “Christmas At Home”.

Known for their blend of modern sounds and timeless appeal, the band re-imagines their original orchestral holiday anthem in an intimate, acoustic trio format.

The result is a cozy stripped-down rendition that perfectly captures the warmth, longing and joy that defines the holiday season.

In this exclusive interview, we take a deeper dive into the inspiration behind the song, the creative vision for the music video, and the magic of bringing their holiday vision to life with the help of the talented Sean Power of Music City Content Kings.

Watch here:

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in
this way?

“Christmas At Home” is a forlorn little love letter to the holidays. We wanted to evoke the warm feelings of nostalgia that sneak in this time of year.

2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

We love the old Christmas specials and all of the unique and interesting performances from them. It was also an exciting musical opportunity to reimagine the original arrangement, replete with full orchestration, as a simplified acoustic trio!

3. What was the process of making the video?

The inimitable Sean Power of Music City Content Kings has a cozy studio here in Nashville. He does incredible work and had the cameras all set up and the stockings hung by the sound baffles with care. It’s always a delight to work with him whenever we can!

About The It City

The It City is a dynamic Nashville-based band known for its eclectic fusion of sounds that blend pop, rock, and soul with the timeless spirit of the city’s musical heritage.

Formed by a group of talented musicians including DJ Phillips (guitar, vocals), Derrek Phillips (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Rich Brinsfield (bass, backing vocals), and Reed Pittman (keyboards, vocals) the band has quickly become a standout act in the vibrant Nashville music scene.

With a string of successful releases and collaborations, The It City has received attention both locally and internationally, sharing the stage with music legends such as Elton John, Lana Del Rey, Sting, and Maren Morris.

The band’s sound is characterized by rich harmonies, infectious melodies, and a deep-rooted commitment to musicianship, evident in their diverse musical influences and creative approach to songwriting.

Their holiday single Christmas At Home is the latest in a series of releases that explore their familiar sounds while staying true to the heart of what makes their music so universally appealing.

Connect with The IT City here:

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music