Sunday, April 15, 2018

Woman, Amen Music Video Shares Story of Mother-Daughter Duo

January kicked off beautifully for Dierks Bentley fans around the world, with the album announcement, tour announcement, clothing line announcement, and release of his newest single "Woman, Amen." Still climbing the charts three months later, it was only a matter of time that we'd get a chance to see the artistic expression of this empowering, uplifting song through a music video. And, once again, Dierks shows he's all heart.

In the style of his Riser video, Dierks uses this medium to share a real story and hope it inspires others to action. This time, he chose mother-daughter duo, Jennifer and Sydnee Floyd from Nashville, Tenn.

(photo by Capitol Nashville)

"I was really drawn to their real life experience, and I wanted to do a video based on real people with real struggles and real triumphs," he said. "These are the people I get to meet every day, and they are really the ones who have inspired this music."

According to a news source in Franklin, Tenn., Sydnee was born with PFAPA, a syndrome that results in fevers and sore throats, and EDS, a condition that affects the connective tissue in her body. After dealing with bullying and other hardships, the pair decided to move "to a big town" and a fresh start. There, "Sydnee took bullying and turned it around, she used it to motivate herself to do more for others."

With their hearts broken for the homeless community, they regularly volunteer for a local organization, putting together toiletries and essentials kits to distribute to those who are homeless.

As Sydnee says at the end of the video, "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."

The video shows just how much of a positive difference they are making in their community.


“Jennifer and Sydnee make everyone around them want to do more, to be better … it was an incredible honor for me to honor them,” Dierks said. “I hope that by shining a light on the completely selfless volunteer work they do, it will maybe inspire other folks to do what they can in their own communities."

But, it wouldn't have had the same effect if Dierk's team had simply called Jennifer and Sydnee to see if they would be interested in being featured. No. Dierks needed to be in on the action. And what a surprise it was! Here's the backstory:

On April 9, we knew the video was on its way with a behind-the-scenes video Dierks posted through his Instagram page.



The next day, after the video was released, Dierks shared this full clip. Instant smiles and instant tears.

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on

While pretty much anyone I know wouldn't be able to say "YES!" fast enough, Jennifer responded in the most humble, gracious way (letting all of us know he picked the PERFECT story for this song).

As Jennifer said in a later interview, “Sydnee and I are so excited and deeply humbled that Dierks Bentley thought we were special enough to help share his song. We hope that this video touches your heart like it does ours. New life motto #WomanAmen.”

Here it is!



Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Title Track and "The Mountain" Tracklist Revealed



On April 12, those who follow Dierks Bentley's social media channels were given some very important news we've all been waiting for: The Mountain album will be released June 8!

That same day, those who pre-ordered The Mountain were notified of an extra special surprise: a downloadable title track!

Oh, it's an amazing week for Dierks fans, isn't it?

After we set up yet another Dierks countdown timer on our phones (54 days, 15 hours, 23 minutes as of the writing of this blog), we can now see what's been hinted at over the last few weeks. All song titles are available (and we have clips of many of them!).

As stated by Dierks' PR team, "Reaching a new creative high, Bentley co-wrote 10 of the 13 new tracks that are unified by themes of presence and positivity, and range in style from textured rock to acoustic folk, feeling both rooted and expansive at the same time."

Can I get a "Woman, Amen!"?



Here's what we know (click on the links for info about the songs):

1. Burning Man (written by Luke Dick and Bobby Pinson)

2. The Mountain (written by Dierks Bentley, Jon Randall, Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby)

3. Living (written by Dierks Bentley, Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, Ashley Gorley)

4. Woman, Amen (written by Dierk Bentley, Ross Copperman, Josh Kear)

5. You Can't Bring Me Down (written by Dierks Bentley, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsay)

6. Nothing On But The Stars (written by Dierks Bentley Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, Jon Randall)

7. Goodbye In Telluride (written by Dierks Bentley, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Scooter Carusoe)

8. My Religion (written by Jamie Kenney, Ben Burgess, Michael Pollack, Rick Markowitz)

9. One Way (written by Dierks Bentley, Jeff Hyde, Laura Veltz)

10. Son Of The Sun (written by Dierks Bentley, Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, Jon Randall)

11. Stranger To Myself (written by Dierks Bentley, Ross Copperman, Heather Morgan)

12. Travelin' Light (feat. Brandi Carlile) (written by Dierks Bentley, Ashley Gorley, Jon Nite)

13. How I'm Going Out (written by Jessi Alexander, Jon Randall--a fun bit of trivia: Jessi and Jon are married!)

Collaborations on this album include songs with Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile, and world-renowned bluegrass musicians Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Tim O’Brien.

When reflecting on the tracks of this album, Dierks said, “For me it’s the best of both worlds, and it feels like something new. It’s powerful but also happy, with acoustic sensibility mixed in with the big sounds I like to have for the road. They are the songs I’d play for somebody to say, ‘This is who I am right now.’"

We'll take all the sneak peeks we can get until this album is released.

With "Woman, Amen" climbing the charts and flooding the airwaves, and now "The Mountain" available through major music services (and on repeat on our devices!), our Dierks playlists have gotten that much better, with the promise of mountain-sized talent to come.

Carrie Srebro
DB Congress Chart Reporter
@corbers

Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe

Thursday, April 5, 2018

More Surprises Announced, Including New Songs and Festival

The strategy and planning for The Mountain release and Mountain High Tour kick off is pure gold (an indicator of how this album will go on the charts?)!

Let's start with the tour addition announced this morning. 

Over the last four days, Dierks Bentley has been teasing something big happening this summer. It all started on Monday with this post:

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on

This was followed by a teaser clip a day--including a clip of Dierks taking his signature "polar plunge" in a local stream to make sure "the spot" would be idyllic. Turns out it was.

The reveal?

This Labor Day weekend, Dierks will be hosting his very own festival--the Seven Peaks Music Festival in Buena Vista, Colo. “It’s a dream come true situation for me,” he said. Guest artists already announced include Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne, LANCO, Elle King, Del McCoury, Sam Bush and The Cadillac Three, with more acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

It's clear Dierks found enlightenment in Colorado when working on The Mountain album in Telluride last year. His experience at that time has inspired his upcoming album, tour nameclothing line, and now festival.

“I don’t plan on sleeping,” Bentley told Billboard when talking about Seven Peaks. “I plan on either being on stage or in the campground, high-fiving people, handing out free beers … Anything I’m involved with, I’m involved for a reason. It’s not work. When people look back on this festival the first year, [I want them to say], ‘Gosh, he was everywhere! No one was having more fun at the festival than Dierks was.’”

Tickets for the festival, camping and parking go on sale April 20 at 10 a.m. MT.




In other Dierks news, he recently played three new songs off the upcoming album at a recent event (which we can add to the seven we knew about).

On March 26, Dierks headlined a fundraiser at the City Winery, a 110-person venue in Nashville. Proceeds from the event benefitted WMOT Roots Radio 89.5, a listener-supported National Public Radio station in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The set list included everything from Dierks' first single, "What Was I Thinkin'," to his most recent, "Woman, Amen," and a few we've all come to love in between.


But there were three on this list that were not familiar to the DB Congress reps in the audience. Thankfully, they had their cameras ready to go. Here's "Can't Bring Me Down," duet "Traveling Light" and "Stranger to Myself." (Dierks also mentioned, but didn't sing, a new song entitled "Son of the Sun" during this set!)





As we all eagerly watch our countdown calendars to the tour launch in May and album release in June, these song teasers and festival announcements are an unexpected, treasured gift. Now ... to get some Dierks Road Trips scheduled ...


Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe