VIDEO PREMIERE
I have just released a new music video. Well, actually I have been patiently waiting to release this since it was finished around February/March of 2021 while I was wrapping up the new record. The song “Blue Tarps” was an unexpected happening that emerged from an experience that deeply impacted me, and I wanted to be sure to release this video at the proper time, allowing people to better connect with this story and the powerful imagery. The composition, it's story, and the film all kind of converged together in a unique way, and I had the wonderful opportunity to share part of this experience with the publication Americana-UK. They premiered the video December 14th, and wrote a nice article that features more of the backstory. I recommend reading that here as well: https://americana-uk.com/video-premiere-jon-arthur-schmidt-blue-tarps
I truly love this song, and we did end up using the very demo I recorded at home after writing it. This take has a certain raw, natural quality that compliments and supports the story. I still get drawn into the way the words flow along with the chords and melodic structure, and it reminds me of the visceral way in which I was compelled to write the song, and the conviction I experienced over my lack of appreciation for God’s basic provisions, and compassion for those who due to various struggles have nothing. To close out this story - The video premiered on Dec. 14th, and after about a week I reached out to Matt to share the feature article. He said he’d actually seen it the day it came out, and went on to share that strangely enough on the very same day the video released, the Minneapolis authorities arrived and broke-up this large encampment near the studio and forced everyone to leave. I was quite stunned by the timing of these events.
A sincere thanks to Matt Patrick, who was inspired by the track and decided to go out and film and begin creating this video project. Collaborating with him on this was another one of the great and memorable highlights I hold dear from my creative journey. I hope you enjoy it, and that it gives you a chance to reflect some as it has for me. Have a wonderful and blessed new year.
℗ by Jon Arthur Schmidt