Tyler-James Kelly is known to many as the former singer/songwriter/guitarist for late, great Providence, Rhode Island rock band The Silks. With his debut solo release, however, Kelly takes his talent in an entirely different musical direction.
Dream River hearkens back to the days of Willie and Waylon, a glorious collection of classic country songs brought to life with old school arrangements filled with pedal steel, fiddle, harmonica, and, of course, Kelly’s guitar.
“Big Dreams”, the latest single from the forthcoming album, would fit well in either of the aforementioned artists’ catalogs. The song speaks to blazing one’s own trail in spite of – or to spite – detractors encountered along the way. “They say don’t build castles in the air ’cause you’re a nobody from nowhere,” Kelly sings, “around here it’s a crying shame for anyone to go against the grain.”
The video portrays the song in an unvarnished – and wonderful – light. Kelly sitting on the porch of a cabin in the woods; the song stripped down to just Kelly’s voice and guitar.
Says Kelly about the song: “Big Dreams” felt good to record as I’ve always liked the message of it. Taking a leap out of the small town mentality and being yourself. Don’t let the bastards get you down kind of thing. A local Rhode Islander, AJ Salvatore absolutely makes the fiddle sing throughout this number.
Twangville is honored to premiere the video for “Big Dreams” from Tyler-James Kelly’s debut solo album. Dream River will be released via Clover Music Group on 15 November but don’t wait until then – jump on the bandwagon now.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.