Leif Vollebekk wrote his song “Apalachee Plain” in one sitting but it took many different forms until he nailed the perfect feel - a shimmering country song in 6/8. The stunning New Ways album closer now has a video, unveiled today. It captures Leif, glazed with rain, and a sprawling Icelandic landscape in black and white. “Apalachee Plain” was recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood and includes vocals from Australian singer-songwriter Angie McMahon and legendary pedal steel played Cindy Cashdollar.
“A few years ago I was driving through the painted desert and saw a lone mustang running alongside the road. He looked so free. And he seemed to know everything. That image came back to me when I wrote it,” says Leif.
“I wanted to create a photographic video for this track which used mixed media, icelandic landscapes and portrait photography to give an other-worldy vibe to the track putting Leif and his voice at the centre of the visuals,” video director Joe Connor says.
Leif has had a big year on the heels of New Ways. In the past month alone he’s sold out his biggest U.S. shows ever in NYC (Bowery Ballroom) and Los Angeles (Troubadour) during a sold out U.S. run that continues through this week, and then brings Leif back to Australia, dates announced today before returning to Europe and U.K. Last week he also performed on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic,which was live to air. He was also recently featured on NPR's Heavy Rotation, KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic’s Today’s Top Tune and their Top 10, CBC's 'q' show and much more.
New Ways is the follow-up to his 2017 album Twin Solitude, which was a Polaris Prize finalist and earned Leif his first Juno nomination.
