The trio, Mad Agnes, is well known for their captivating on-stage charisma and presence as well as their jaw-dropping musicianship. This unique blend has enchanted listeners worldwide for decades, and the group has built a reputation on their uniquely charming and intriguing sound. 

Mad Agnes, (Margo Hennebach, Adrienne Jones, and Mark Saunders), combines elements of folk, Americana, and acoustic styles with intricate harmonies that entice the ear with lyricism and wit, pointing the listener towards internal introspection.   

Their latest album release, “Likely Story” shows how each song carries a real intellectual depth, exploring universal themes like love, loss, change and reinvention in a very original way. The arrangements are rich with guitars, mandolin, ukulele, and piano alongside inventive three-part harmonies that infuse each track of this release. 

Mad Agnes’ sophisticated vocal harmonies and impeccable musical arrangements have long enraptured music critics, garnering them comparisons to esteemed folk groups such as Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention. 

We caught up with Mad Agnes to discuss the music video to accompany their new single release, “Beauty of this World,” written by Margo Hennebach. 

Tell us the story of this song. Why did you choose to visualize it specifically in this way?

Because I wrote the song while hiking on the trails around our house in rural CT, I wanted to focus on the beauty I see around me everyday—a beauty that needs no fanfare, flowering trees, sunsets, or dramatic waterfalls.  Mark filmed 95% of the video in our backyard on a misty day in early spring.  The only scene away from our home is of a group of singers gathered from around the world blessing a table of food, captured from our time in Italy last June.  It fit the song’s lyric too perfectly to ignore.

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

When I take a moment to slow down, I’m inspired by living in such an extraordinary world. 

I’m surrounded by beauty, wildlife and flora, and I hear music everywhere.  I’m especially grateful for the humans I can share this with including my larger community, dear friends, and my special someone. 

What was the process of making this video?

Originally I wanted the video to be artistically animated with watercolors or oils–colorful and lighthearted–but then we had a deadline!   Looking out the window and seeing the misty rain, we both knew how great the light would be, so we sprang into action.  I grabbed my red top, we went outside for some test videos and realized very quickly that we had what we wanted.  For good measure, we brought out the piano and filmed the beginning and end of the song.  

Mark moved the camera around me so I could interact with it more naturally and he could capture more of the setting.  We worked quickly because of the threat of heavier rain, and we both knew what we wanted.  The video was filmed and edited that day.