After nearly a decade of non-stop album cycle touring with the lauded Quiet Hollers, Shadwick Wilde tapped out, took a break, and ushered in the most prolific stretch of songwriting in his career at the end of 2019 and into the forced stillness of 2020. This time of musical abundance yielded three albums of material: a spare solo collection recorded on his Kentucky farm; a set earmarked for Quiet Hollers alumni—2022’s excellent Forever Chemicals; and the extraordinary ten songs that comprise Forever Home, his first proper solo album in 12 years, produced by Wilco and Uncle Tupelo’s Ken Coomer and due out September 22nd.
While “Easy Rider” celebrates the calm and quiet of domestic bliss, a feeling enhanced by the warmth of his guitar strings, and the accompanying video shot on 16mm film, there is no pretending that these moments are solid and effortless (So why, why do I piss it away?). The song is described as a grateful rumination on a lived-in relationship that also welcomes the listener into the album’s initial warm contentment. Those lyrics: “Don’t worry, mama/I drive real slow these days“, really do stay with you throughout the song; holding hope, trust and conviction. It’s a gem.
I have to add that, from a completely visual perspective, the accompanying video is exceptional, and it’s great to see some vintage clockwork technology being used here by Scott Carney – namely, a wind-up Bolex H16 camera. These Swiss precision cameras have been creeping back into filmmaking (a great example being Mark Jenkin’s award-winning Cornish film Bait), and its use here works so well…aided, of course, by the performance of Wilde’s partner and child.
Shadwick Wilde on Easy Rider:
Directed by filmmaker and musician Scott Carney (Wax Fang). We shot this video on 16mm film on a hot summer day just outside Louisville, Kentucky. The camera was a vintage Bolex H16. Rose Island Road is a bit of a landmark of Louisville music lore, as it was the location where Slint shot the photo for their 1989 album Tweez. That’s where we shot most of our footage.
The video also stars Sarah and Emma Wilde, my partner and our child, respectively. I had to bribe them with ice cream.
I wrote this song while driving, so it seemed fitting that the visual representation reflects that… Our friend Vinnie Lafronza allowed us the use of his granddad’s 1963 Chevrolet Corvair, which he had to make several repairs and adjustments to, on location.
In this song, I tried to capture the truth of the ennui that can creep in when life becomes too peaceful or happy. Depression always wants to step in and throw things off balance, for me anyway.
The single, Easy Rider, is out on June 23rd (pre-save it here).
More here: https://www.shadwickwilde.com/