Leon III | ‘Fly Migrator’ Remix by Kai Welch
Enjoy the video of ‘Fly Migrator’ Remix by Kai Welch. The song is taken from ‘Antlers in Velvet’, a new album by psych-folk rockers, Leon III.
The Texas-based genre-exploratory outfit led by Andy Stepanian (vocal, guitar, keyboard, piano, omnichord) and Mason Brent (guitar, bass, vocal, banjo) who were both members of Wrinkle Neck Mules, a long running Virginia based band with a significant cult following, and founders of the popular Austin apparel brand Howler Brothers recently released their highly anticipated sophomore album, ‘Antlers in Velvet’.
Leon III, sounds like a relic from another age. Even though this is only the second effort from Leon III, the project can trace its roots to the late ’90s when Andy Stepanian and Mason Brent started a band in Charlottesville, Virginia called Wrinkle Neck Mules, a honky-tonk outfit that made six albums, had a song featured in a GEICO commercial, and built up a dedicated and far-ranging fan base. Stepanian and Brent also collaborate in the form of Howler Brothers, a popular outdoor clothing line based in Austin, Texas, which they operate and which bears their artistic imprimatur.
Stepanian and Brent grew up in Richmond, Virginia, where country and roots music informed much of their musical development. But the two have always been drawn to the progressive, exploratory ethos of the psychedelic masters, as well as left-of-center folk artists like Vic Chesnutt and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. This new record is the consummation of that vision.
About ‘Fly Migrator’ Remix by Kai Welch
“Kai Welch might not be a household name but he’s kind of a superpower. He’s capable of such a wide range of musical output. He’s a wizard on synthesizer and can come up with this extraordinary weirdness in that realm. But he’s also tremendously talented as a songwriter, trumpet player, pianist and composer. He was nominated for a Grammy this last year for a beautiful song of his called ‘Ceiling to the Floor’ that mandolin virtuoso Sierra Hull recorded. We’ve had a chance to collaborate with Kai on a variety of things over the last few years including the time he spent with us in California making the ‘Antlers in Velvet’ record. After the recording was finished, we thought it would be fun to throw ‘Fly Migrator’ back to Kai and see what kind of craziness he could come up with in a remix. We love what he did. He kept the essence of the song, including Mason’s bombastic guitar solo, but also made it something new. I guess that’s the point of a remix.”
As difficult as it’s been, the period has also been a time for reflection, for patience, for a new way of looking at things. With that in mind, Leon III’s forthcoming record, Antlers in Velvet is the perfect album for an imperfect time – a song cycle that allows for a deeper dive into some of the darker and more complex corners of American music that speaks coherently to the very strange times in which we find ourselves.
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