Love at first sight. It’s the kind of magic we read about, dream about and sometimes, if we are lucky, experience for ourselves.
For Siren frontman Rob Phillips, that moment wasn’t just a fleeting feeling. It was the spark that ignited their latest single, “Arrow”.
A blend of melodic rock, progressive influences, and Middle America roots, “Arrow” captures the intensity of an instant connection. The kind that defies logic and begs the question: Could this be the one?
With a music video directed by Isaac Deitz (Manchester Orchestra, Grouplove, Switchfoot), the visual storytelling mirrors Phillips’s own love story about two people unknowingly crossing paths until fate finally brings them together.
The video’s unique paper airplane concept ties their connection together making for an unforgettable ending.
We got the chance to sit down with Rob Phillips and find out more about the inspiration behind “Arrow”, the personal love story that shaped it, and what it was like bringing that moment to life through music and film.
From the real-life first meeting with his wife, this is a song and story filled with emotion, fate and rock and roll magic.
Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?
“Arrow” is first and foremost a love story. I wrote the song about meeting my wife to be. I think that it is ironic that we both lived and worked in the same town only a few steps away from each other and never met. A friend of mine recommended this high end restaurant that had a rock band playing that night so I walked down there to see the band.
When I arrived, I was greeted by the hostess for seating and there was this beautiful woman with brown eyes. She gave me a smile and that was our beginning. We both felt the same instant attraction.
It was like finding a needle in a haystack. We are very blessed to have found love. The video shows the couple passing each other every day and never meeting until the end.
What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
We used the lyrics in the song for the storyline. Isaac Dietz is the Video Producer and he had a vision for the song. He approached me with the paper airplane concept and I thought it was a great idea. We were able to tie in the couples chance meeting with the message in the paper airplane when they meet on the bridge and embrace. A nice bow on the top at the end.
What was the process of making the video?
Isaac filmed the actors in Georgia and the band was not involved with that process.
The band’s performance was filmed in Florida at a local bar called JD’s in Coral Springs. My wife’s father was there for the filming and he is 100 years old and a WW2 Veteran.
It was such an honor to have him there with us. Everyone wanted to get pictures of him. He is a true rock star and as a family we will always cherish these moments.
From the roar of the football pitch to the soul-stirring acoustics of Abbey Road, Gavin Holligan’s journey has been anything but ordinary.
Once a rising star in the world of professional football, he made the bold leap into music, carving out a career that has seen him work with legends like Stevie Wonder, Gloria Gaynor, and Duffy.
But beyond the session gigs and high-profile collaborations, Gavin’s true creativity lies in his ability to create deeply personal, timeless music. Songs that stir you on a deep leve.
His latest release “Just Passing Through“is no exception. Inspired by the fear of losing a close friend to cancer, the song captures the raw emotion of grief, love and the fleeting nature of life.
Recorded live at the now iconic Abbey Road Studios, this track strips everything back to its very essence – pure, unfiltered storytelling through music. In this interview, Gavin shares the deeply personal journey behind the song, the magic of recording, and what it means to create something timeless.
1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically inthis way?
The song was inspired by the pending thought of losing a close friend and colleague who was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. Fortunately he has made a full recovery, but the whole experience hit me deeply, and made me consider that we are all facing the inevitability of our departure from this life, or at some point likely to lose someone that we love and appreciate dearly.
Less than a year after writing the song, I was invited by a record label to record a couple of my original songs, live at Abbey Road, and I thought it would be the right time to express this piece, and do it in the most honest and meaningful way, especially after having lost a good friend and colleague of mine, (a separate incident to my other friend, also to a brutal bout of cancer).
My next challenge became figuring out who would be able to assist me musically, but I was fortunate to have the good pleasure of being accompanied by some of the best musicians I know! I and the core musical line up, met for a meet and greet – the day before to play through the song and feel our way through the structure, and make sure we were all on ‘the same page’. And then we did one final run through in the morning of the shoot – before the trip to Abbey road, where we met the String players for a final top and tail on set.
2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
So much of my time is spent carefully crafting music/records (for myself and others), with the use of software, samples, and machines! . Whilst this is an amazing and enjoyable process (for the most part) there is something magical about capturing a live take of a song, in one take, with humans in the room. The video is literally a documentation of that exact moment, when we all found a way to connect with the song, and each other, and do it seamlessly! It was all about maintaining the integrity of the sentiment of the arrangement and the lyrics, by bringing a level of simplicity and honesty to the performance, which I believe can be very hard to do, but I feel that we did thankfully!
3. What was the process of making the video?
There was an enormous amount of pressure, as we only had around 45 mins to get in and set up, do a quick sound check, and execute the song! Most of the magic of the video is in witnessing the beauty of the music/arrangement, the lyrics, and of course, the honesty caught on camera. There was literally no way of preparing for that moment, other than being ‘fully present’, and of course knowing how to deliver in your chosen craft (performers and crew).
There was a camera team set up and an audio team already assembled to capture the moment, and we literally had time enough to record 3 takes of the track.
We then decided on which take was the best take, and I believe it was take three that we chose as the best take!
Even the camera edit was done live, so all in all, a very efficient process and an incredible outcome considering all the variables!
I am really pleased the world can enjoy this art in such an authentic way.
“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.
Julie Haven’s latest single, “Running Man,” is a surprising, upbeat shift from the more introspective ballads that have established her as one of Metro Detroit’s most soulful and evocative singer-songwriters.
Known for her honest reflections on heartbreak and life’s tougher lessons, Julie’s music has always been an outlet for the heavier and more complex emotions that resonate with listeners.
But with “Running Man”, a cheeky, piano-powered pop-rock anthem, Julie lets her lighter, wittier side take center stage. Inspired by an emotionally elusive partner with a “dismissive avoidant attachment style,” the song is a burst of energy and personality aimed squarely at a man who “runs at the first sign of struggle or closeness.” The music video, however, takes things a step further, and captures the humor and absurdity of this dynamic with over-the-top silliness.
With a cast of hilariously exaggerated characters and laugh-out-loud moments, the video features Julie’s friends dressed up in zany roles. From the elusive Running Man himself to a wig-wearing “mother” crying over her daughter’s love life.
Filmed in her old Florida home and local parks, the video transforms familiar settings into a stage for playful scenes that poke fun at her own heartbreak.
Here, Julie shares what inspired “Running Man,” how the video came together, and why this song is such a departure for her musically and emotionally.
1. Tell us the story of this song; why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?
The song itself was written as a sort of follow up to “See Me Cry”, where I was already in a state of frustration from feeling like I was being toyed with by an emotionally unavailable partner, (who now I realize many years later, was man with a dismissive avoidant attachment style), and the constant hot and cold dynamic led to an even angrier version of myself when I wrote “Running Man”. Which essentially, is about a man who constantly runs at the first sign of struggle or closeness in a relationship.
I wanted this video to be just super over the top, ridiculous and silly. Most of my songs are very serious and about heartbreak or the constant lessons of life that I’m trying to interpret and learn. I released “Kill Me”, which is a pretty dark song about being lied to and about infidelity, which had a very creepy animated video along with it, then followed that up with the emotionally heavy, “Between the Lies”, about domestic abuse, and I wanted this video to be the total opposite of that and just be stupid, really. I have a bunch of different sides of me, and the people who know me very well, know that as dark and depressed I can be, I can also be really silly and have no problem making fun of myself. So I wanted that to come through in this video.
So with the video, I wanted to take the lyrics and over exaggerate them with a very tongue and cheek tone. We have Benjamin Card, (a super talented songwriter under the name “Breezy Tempest”) the Running Man himself, and he’s in this bright yellow outfit and basically running the whole time. My friend Glenn Baker (Glenn Baker Band) plays my mother, and he’s wearing a bright red wig with a full beard. And the basic story is I give him my heart, which in the video is an actual heart shaped totem, he runs away with it, but keeps coming back while I keep giving him chances. Eventually I run after him and get my heart back once and for all.
2. What inspired this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
When I thought about making this video, I just kept picturing the most ridiculous scenes and this guy just running away from the simplest things like milk spilling onto the floor, being intimate and bolting, taking off when I’m crying watching a movie (“Kill Me” easter egg moment), actually biting me and running away (a line in the song). And it just kind of morphed into what we have. I added the idea of my mother crying every time this guy runs away and breaks her little girl’s heart, and it hit me one day “What if Glenn dresses in a wig and a tight dress?! It would be hilarious!” Then my disapproving father (who has never approved of any man in my life) is smoking a bubble pipe with a drawn on beard (Ironically enough played by my now ex). It’s just over the top silly. And just for fun I added my friend Michelle Johnson in there for no reason other than being the “BANG!” girl who is a random character who pulls a trigger on a prob gun that says “BANG!” and cheering for everything cause she loves everyone. She cracks me up.
3. What was the process of making this video?
Lance Goodman was the videographer, director and editor. He is the same guy who filmed “Between the Lies”, and I loved working with him the first time, so I decided to do it again. One of the cool things is that we filmed both videos in the same locations; the house where I used to live with my ex in Florida, and the park where we used to run. I thought it was neat to have the dark and the light in the same places.
We filmed this in one day. So the day of the shoot everyone showed up at the house and I had my ideas written down as certain scenes I wanted to try and we tried it all. We then went to the park and finished the running scenes, which was very funny because there were random people walking around and watching us as we acted out this ridiculous video. A scene we added last minute was Ben dropping my keyboard and breaking it and then taking off, leaving me to clean up the mess. I would never condone destroying a piece of perfectly good equipment, however, two days prior to filming this video, I was rear ended and my car was totaled along with my keyboard while I was driving to a gig. I wanted to add a car scene in the video but the car was undrivable. So I decided to add the keyboard scene in since it was already destroyed. Very “Rock ‘n Roll” lol.
I also gave Ben full reign to do whatever he wanted with the character, and he was perfect for that role. I could not stop laughing. I kept breaking character because he would surprise me with the faces he would make or moves he would just randomly do. We all had a lot of fun making this. Great memories for sure.
“Running Man” is a track from “Dramatic Departures”, Julie’s first full-length album, crafted from an intimate collection of songs she’s kept close over the years.
Her discography already includes an album, four EPs, and a live record, capturing a journey that has seen her perform across the U.S., from small coffeehouses to major festivals.
Julie has been a recurring artist at Michigan’s celebrated Arts, Beats and Eats Festival, where her music resonates with audiences year after year. With the upcoming worldwide release of “Dramatic Departures“, Julie invites listeners to connect with her most personal work to date.
Jason Sinay is a name that carries weight in the music world, not just for his collaborations with icons like Keith Richards, Neil Young, and Lucinda Williams, but for his long-standing role as a member of Heartbreaker Mike Campbell’s band, the Dirty Knobs.
Now, stepping into the spotlight with his solo career, Sinay is carving a new path defined by raw masterful and original songwriting, and a deep connection to his musical roots.
At the heart of this next chapter is “High Plains Drifter,” the lead single from his upcoming double album, “The Mountain“ due to be released at the beginning of 2025.
Inspired by Clint Eastwood’s iconic Western of the same name, the song blends cosmic country-rock with introspective storytelling, painting a vivid picture of self-reckoning. Its jangly guitars and atmospheric grooves capture the timeless spirit of the Old West while reflecting Sinay’s personal journey of confronting inner demons and embracing the complexity of human nature.
In this exclusive interview, Sinay opens up about the inspiration behind the official music video to “High Plains Drifter”:
1. Tell us the story of this song. Why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?
“High Plains Drifter” centers on an ominous character — “Born to be a liar/ Born to be a liar/ Like me” — who turns out to be the man in the mirror.
The song is about coming to terms with my own sense of good and evil within myself. I never wanted to look at evil in my life. I always was like, That doesn’t exist. That can’t be true. People aren’t that bad.
And then I realized, Well, sometimes, I’m not that bad.
The song is named after Clint Eastwood’s 1973 Western High Plains Drifter — one of my favorite films ever made!
2. What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
We approached legendary music video director Woody Ford, who brings fun and compelling imagery to his work. We all are fans of the silent Western/Comedy films of the early 1900’s and thought those masterpiece’s could be a great resource to tell the story of the onimous characters of the old West, outlined in the song. I am thrilled with the results.
3. What was the process of making this video?
Woody and his team spent over 40 hours viewing classic silent films, most over 100 years old, that he could repurpose to bring the storyline to life. I was blown away with the wealth of great footage they uncovered.
It was amazing how Woody used the lyrics, throughout the video, and kept the integrity of these classic films by making the video in the style of a silent film. He did use some modern AI technology, to incorporate me as one of the characters in the video … see if you can locate my cameo?
Stephen Jaymes continues to impress with his mysterious new single, “The Evidence Against Her“, a thought provoking exploration of inner turmoil and spiritual conflict.
In this brand new single, Jaymes goes deep into the murky and mysterious waters of Jungian psychology, exploring the relationship between a man and his anima – the feminine aspect of his psyche who seems to have turned against him.
The track has an eerie ambience with its stormy instrumentals which build tension, and the inclusion of a chorus without words adds to this overall atmosphere. The listener is drawn into the depths of both dread, impending doom, and beauty.
Listen in here:
While Jaymes is building a name for himself with his unique blend of punk and new wave, you also find some folk influences all of which work together to create something entirely unique.
The other thing about Jaymes’s songs is that the lyrics actually mean something. Something beyond the usual theme of the day, something that goes deeper and speaks to the psyche of the modern day. The uncertainty, the turmoil, the darker side of things if you like.
“The Evidence Against Her” takes a long and hard look at the importance of maintaining a sense of harmony with one’s spiritual muse, or could you say “higher self”, in the midst of so much adversity. These factors combine to make his music something memorable.
“The evidence against her, laps at the window and doors, Every day there’s more of it, It’s pooling up through the floors, And suddenly I’m drifting, On a sea so vast, No wind and no sail, No way to make love last.But I refuse to dive in. Though it says it will save my soul. I know the evidence against her. Hides a deadly undertow. Is it better to be rescued. Or to drown in sight of land. When to see you captured. Is the fate that she had planned?”
The accompanying music video takes these themes further, portraying Jaymes as a figure adrift at sea who is grappling with his internal struggles. A striking visual presence, complete with curly mohawk, reinforces the song’s message.
The Evidence Against Her not only marks a significant addition to Jaymes’s growing discography but also serves as a sort of thematic companion to his earlier single “Chief Inspector“. Both songs delve into Jungian concepts, reflecting on the battles between the self and the unconscious.
But this song is also an eerie reminder that, whether we are aware of it or not, we are all able to explore how we have reached this new world we are in.
Listen to “The Evidence Against Her” onSpotify now!
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