“I come from a long line of self-destructors and sabotagers,” says Jason Hawk Harris. “The character in ‘Shine A Little Light’ is an amalgamation of many different family members all rolled into one. So I guess my influence here is my insane family.”
The past five years have been a rough go for the Houston-bred roots/country artist. It began with his mother’s passing and spun wildly into an absurd string of setbacks that continued with his father’s bankruptcy and a touring van that was stolen and subsequently wrecked. As Harris was working on a follow-up to his well-received 2019 album, Love & The Dark, a tornado paid a disconcerting visit. Then it appeared he’d be without label when Bloodshot Records looked to be finished for good.
Out now on the relaunched Bloodshot, Thin Places finds Harris in a better place as he unflinchingly processes the five-year shitshow that’s transpired in cinematic detail. In the process, he continues to flesh out his sound with elements of rockabilly, gospel and soul as he navigates grief, natural disasters and just plain rotten luck. Living in Austin these days, Harris has his fans to thank for providing the money to make Thin Places, which was recorded and sequenced by Harris and Los Angeles-based producer Andy Freeman (Eisley, Manchester Orchestra) to be consumed in a single sitting.
Inspired by a melody written by Harris’ late uncle, “Shine A Little Light” is surprisingly spry and upbeat, even if its self-destructive sentiments are anything but.
“I told (director) Austin Leih to just go nuts and be an artist,” says Harris of the fast-paced parade of images—some startling, others absurd, many dealing with destruction in some form—that comprise the video. “I think he put something together that perfectly captures the mood of the song.”
MAGNET is proud to premiere the video for “Shine A Little Light” today. Check it out now.
—Hobart Rowland
