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Foxfeather Follows Latest Single “End of My Rope” With A Striking Music Video

“End of My Rope” is the latest video release from alt. Americana band Foxfeather, presenting a woman strong in her power and ready to fight.

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Alt. Americana band Foxfeather showcases a poignant resilience in spite of painful circumstances with their new music video for “End Of My Rope,” releasing on February 17th. The single released in fall 2021, earning itself a reputation as a fan and band favorite in that time. The video tells the story of a woman at her breaking point who challenges adversity with an electric confidence; for co-writers Carly Ricks Smith and Laura Stratton, “the lyrics come from a place of deep betrayal and pain, fleshed out after years of trying to make it work in an industry that all too often objectifies and belittles women.” Foxfeather filmed the video for this feminist anthem at Gold Hill, Colorado’s The Gold Hill Inn in collaboration with Kreation Films.

Credits:

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Carly Ricks Smith – Lead vocals, co-founder, and co-writer

Laura Stratton – Guitar, keys, background vocals, co-founder and co-writer

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Blake Smith – Electric guitar

Mark Dabrowski – Bass

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Jay Elliott – Percussion, engineer

Oliver Jacobson – Fiddle

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Kate Farmer – Background vocals

Eben Grace – Producer

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Gus Skinas – engineer

Kreation Films – Videographer and Director

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The video takes place in an old fashioned tavern gleaming with a western charm. While lead vocalist Carly Ricks Smith confronts frustrating interactions between nettlesome men at the bar with an intrepid moxie, she eventually finds herself in the support of a group of fearless women empowered and ready to stand up for themselves. “I’m vicious, this is a warning,” Ricks Smith sings in the chorus, foreshadowing the video’s epic swell into a climactic scene capturing the bite of a woman that has endured her limit of mistreatment. The co-writers sat down and wrote “End of My Rope” in a stroke of poetic irony, which for them, is often when they create their best work. After a particularly difficult transitional year, including big changes in the band line-up, Ricks Smith and Stratton felt disheartened and disheveled. The video for “End of My Rope” captures that same sentiment and reclaims control of a troublesome narrative with grit and grace.

Viewers can stream the music video for “End of My Rope” on all major streaming platforms on February 17th.

More About Foxfeather: 

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Foxfeather is a sultry, alt-americana band founded in 2013 in Boulder, CO. Beginning with a lyrical base, and bolstered by strong blues-rock instrumentals, Foxfeather’s unique sound captivates their audience. Songwriters Carly Ricks Smith and Laura Paige Stratton met in high school, connecting over their shared love of music. The pair began writing together in 2005 and have been creating material for, and leading their band for the past 7 years. Foxfeather is extremely proud of being  an advocate of women in art and in business, and strives to motivate and empower other women and allies through song.  The band is a local staple in the Colorado Front Range and also tours nationally.

In 2014, with the help of engineer Justin Roth of Fort Collins, the group released their debut EP, Foul Moon.  The six-song collection garnered local attention, with The Marquee stating that “the group is overflowing with talent” and “Carly Ricks Smith has a spectacular voice which lies somewhere between the folky soprano of a young Joni Mitchell and the jazz-heavy range of Lake Street Dive’s Rachel Price. powerful as well as delicate.”

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Foxfeather returned to the studio in 2016 to record and release their self-titled and full length album, Foxfeather. Working with producer Jagoda of New York and engineer Jay Elliott of Boulder’s own IntroVertigo Studios, the band created this dark and dusky album. The album features a collection of songs that explore the grey areas of life, whiskey, love and death.

2018 brought the release of a four song EP collection, Come and Get Me. The band again worked with Jagoda and Jay Elliott, but split the process between IntroVertigo Studios and Fox Run Studios in Boston. Smith and Stratton were able to show their versatility through this project, with the four songs showcasing the breadth of their voice and of their songwriting abilities.

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Foxfeather is set to release their newest album in 2022 through PS Audio and Octave Records. The full length album, entitled “The Nature of Things,” features the current band line-up and additional musicians Kate Farmer (backing vocals), Eric Moon (organ/synthesizer), Eben Grace (pedal steel/guitar) and Oliver Jacobson (fiddle). The album was recorded at PS Audio Studios in Boulder, CO, Animal Lane Studios in Lyons, CO, and The Barn in Longmont, CO. Producer extraordinaire is Eben Grace, and Engineering magicians are Jay Elliott and Gus Skinas.

In the last five years, Foxfeather has captured their audience with their unique and sultry songs, sharing stages with The Gasoline Lollipops, Lee Fields and the Expressions, Yonder Mountain String Band, Woodbelly and Andrew Bird. Their songwriting and performance is influenced by a wide variety of artists including Brandi Carlile, Bonnie Raitt, Margaret Glaspy, Ani Difranco, and Stevie Nicks. The band’s current lineup includes Carly Ricks Smith (lead vocals, writer/composer) Laura Paige Stratton (guitar, keyboard, writer/composer), Blake Smith (lead guitar), Mark Dabrowski (bass guitar), and Jay Elliott (drums and percussion). The group is proud to utilize their voice to embolden and rejoice in both the frailty and the power of humanity. With expressive instrumental tone, powerful vocal melody and harmony, and passionate performance, this band is ready to win your hearts.

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Pete Miller Explores Duality on “The Dazzling Kimberly”

Pete Miller’s ‘The Dazzling Kimberly’ is a profound exploration of the intricacies of human emotion and the complexity of our relationships. Through its narrative, the song delves deep into the heart of love, loss, and the paths we choose in life. The protagonist’s journey of self-reflection and contemplation, sparked by the enigmatic Kimberly, serves as a mirror to our own experiences with love and the often painful lessons that come with it.

“The Dazzling Kimberly” is a poignant song that narrates the story of two twins embroiled in conflict, who are brought together and eventually reconciled by their interactions with a mystical figure named Kimberly. This song, with its rich narrative and allusions, particularly to the biblical story of Jacob and Esau, offers a layered exploration of themes such as rivalry, redemption, and the ephemeral nature of life and relationships.

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The song opens with a vivid depiction of one twin’s sense of guilt and moral ambiguity, contrasting his own cunning with his twin’s straightforward approach. This internal conflict sets the stage for the entrance of Kimberly, a figure whose very existence seems otherworldly, serving as a catalyst for change and reflection in the twins’ lives.

Kimberly, characterized by her wisdom and almost supernatural presence, challenges the narrator to reconsider his values, suggesting that victories won through cunning lack the essence of true love and fulfillment. Her influence is profound, guiding the twins towards a reconciliation that seemed impossible before her intervention.

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The chorus of the song encapsulates the narrator’s deep yearning and the transformative impact Kimberly has had on his life. It questions the value of freedom and the significance of their bond, highlighting the impermanence of life through the metaphor of fading air and shifting sands.

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The resolution of the twins’ conflict, prompted by Kimberly’s disappearance (or passing), symbolizes a newfound maturity and understanding. The once-contentious land becomes a symbol of their shared heritage and reconciliation, underscoring the message that love and unity are more valuable than any material possession or victory.

The allusion to Jacob and Esau provides a biblical backdrop to this tale of rivalry and reconciliation, enriching the narrative with layers of meaning and moral questioning. Just as Jacob and Esau reconcile after years of conflict, so do the twins, guided by the ethereal and loving presence of Kimberly.

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The song’s melancholic yet hopeful tone captures the duality of human experience—the longing for what was and the hope for what could be. The moods and themes you’ve described, from melancholy and contemplation to love, regret, and redemption, underscore the universal struggle with fate and the desire for moral clarity and closure.

For further thematic exploration, the works of Leonard Cohen, particularly for their spiritual and existential undertones, or the poetic narratives of Bob Dylan, might resonate with the themes of “The Dazzling Kimberly.” Both artists adeptly weave complex human emotions with broader philosophical and spiritual questions, much like Pete Miller does in this song.

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–Ralph Grossman

 

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Yung Miami Unveils Exciting “Yams” Era in a Dazzling Comeback Trail, Are You Ready for the Yams Revolution

Yung Miami

Yung Miami Unveils Exciting “Yams” Era in a Dazzling Comeback Trail, Are You Ready for the Yams Revolution

 

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The dynamic duo of City Girls, Yung Miami and JT, is gearing up for a remarkable transformation in 2024. While Yung Miami soared on the business front with her acclaimed podcast last year, the musical aspect faced a setback. Their album RAW didn’t quite hit the mark with sales, leaving fans and critics unimpressed. However, the tides are turning for JT and Yung Miami individually, especially with Yung Miami dropping the fire track “Sideways” over the weekend.

But that’s not all – Yung Miami is set to embrace a whole new era, and she teased it back in January with a cryptic tweet. “Welcome to the ‘Yams Era.’ I’m so excited for this era of my life; we’re about to have some FUN!!!” Fans are still decoding the meaning behind “Yams,” with some speculating it’s a play on how to pronounce Miami or exploring unique definitions on Urban Dictionary.

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Regardless, Yung Miami seems to be fully embracing her roots and infusing it into everything she does. A month after hinting at this fresh approach, she dropped a tantalizing “Yams” trailer on Instagram. In the video, she discusses her comeback while showcasing glimpses of studio sessions and teasing a stylish ginger hairstyle. Yung Miami declared, “Welcome to the YAMs Era! The Yams Era is my Prime time! In the Yams, we do ginger hair…focus on ourselves…& get money! Yams is the new lingo… To my fans, The YAMS…this is the new us. Drop a 🍠 if you’re ready!”

Support poured in from fellow artists like JT, Saweetie, and more, flooding her comments with yam emojis and encouragement for this exciting new chapter.

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What’s your take on Yung Miami’s “Yams Era” trailer? What could it signify – a new album, a mindset shift, or a different musical approach? Who’s poised for a bigger solo year, Yung Miami or JT, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t miss a beat with Honk Magazine for all the latest on Yung Miami. Stay tuned for everything buzzing in the music world! 🎶✨

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