I, The Mountain is an indie-folk group from Southern Ontario that specializes in infectious pop hooks, crisp instrumentation and on their latest single “The Boat,” uplifting lyrical themes. That song is out everywhere tomorrow, April 19, but today we’re pleased to premiere the song’s video. It’s been almost five years since the band’s last album Two Birds and with “The Boat” the “three Matts” prove they’ve only grown in the time since that release. I, The Mountain consists of Matthew Lamers, Matthew Rappolt and Matthew Morgan.
The song is a quick burst of folk-pop, opening with the band wordlessly vocalizing the melody (which is later reproduced by a guitar within the verses) with the instruments fading out for the opening line of “Tell your father / The witching hour is dead.” The lyrics are just as upbeat as the melodies, with the chorus building to an anthemic peak with all three members joining in for the refrain of “We’re halfway / We’re halfway there.”
“Inspired by Alistair MacLeod’s classic short story of the same name, our song ‘The Boat’ is embedded with East Coast sound and imagery,” said Lamers. “In its earlier form, the song told the tale of a poor family subsisting in a rural Atlantic fishing town, but, with the help of Simon Ward, lead singer of The Strumbellas, it became an anthem of hope, persistence, and empowerment.”
The video features the band playing on a rooftop to a crowd of adoring fans singing along. First, an older man who appears to live alone in a bit-too-tidy home hears the racket and takes a few unsuccessful measures to get it to stop. Of course, no amount of hitting the ceiling with a broom or shouting out a fire escape window could possibly be heard over the sound of a live concert. The next scene features a similar-aged woman, who again appears to live alone. She too is disturbed by the sounds of pleasant, upbeat indie-folk and tries to get the show shut down.
Eventually the pair give up and just go upstairs to confront the band. To their shock, it’s not just some band practice but a full-blown concert. First, the music wins them over but then gazing across the crowd and making eye-contact, they realize they don’t have to be so alone.
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