AUSTIN, Texas — Shelley King is kicking off 2024 with a little bit of whimsy and a whole lotta joy in her new music video for “Madam Mystic” featuring carnival-esque dancers, jugglers, and fortune tellers. “It was silly fun making it,” says King of the clip, which was directed by John Magnie.
While the video is a fun watch for viewers as well, “Madam Mystic,” which is the title track from King’s 10th album (Lemonade Records), came from somewhat of a “blessing in disguise” scenario. “A friend gave me some tarot cards as a gift,” explains the artist. “I packed them on my trip to Colorado to break ground on this album. I did a reading about how the session would go. Of course, I wanted all gleaming positive cards, but I got a reading I didn’t like… and it turned out to be true!”
She continues, “It said this would be a superb collaboration but that someone who I had planned to be a part of it was going to let me down. I couldn’t believe that! We were all set to record. We had a preproduction meeting scheduled. We had studio time reserved. Sure enough, one of the musicians I had planned for this project backed out at the last minute.”
But, in true DIY style, where there’s a will there’s a way. “I was luckily able to get Eric Thorin to play bass on the session,” adds King. “He is THE GUY in Colorado. He plays with Peter Rowan and teaches at a university here. I met him when he was playing with John Magnie and Steve Amedee in a group called MA. He had two days’ notice to get ready for my first session. He nailed it! I am so fortunate for the turn of events that I initially saw as a roadblock, but really, as cliche as this may be, it really was a blessing in disguise.”
While the song is the story of a girl who goes to a fortune teller who’s told something she wasn’t expecting, it’s also a story of hope, perseverance, and how one can find light in darker situations. “We’ve all been through difficult times,” explains King. “The last few years have given me a lot of time to consider what’s important and what binds us together. I write songs that might help people through the hard times and songs that help people celebrate the good times. I want people to laugh, cry, love more, let go and be happy.”
This track, which King says reminds her of “circus performers and carnival lights,” features Carolyn Wonderland’s masterful whistling skills, Magnie on honky-tonk piano, a kazoo solo by the 3 Twins (John Magnie, Steve Amedee, and Tim Cook), and a dobro solo by the great Cindy Cashdollar.
King is also working on a new video for the first official single, “Time Means Nothing,” which was shot inside a historic clock tower in Downtown Denver. “Over the last few years during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all had our concept of time challenged,” she explains. “From those years where we spent a lot of time away from friends and family to the reunions when we resumed our social lives again post-pandemic. Time became indefinable. We didn’t see some people for several years and then we got back together it was almost as though no time had passed.”
“The lyric, ‘We’ve got forever, there’s no now or never,’ sums it up,” she continues. “It doesn’t matter how long it takes. I give you all my lovin’, I don’t mind the wait.’ Time is mind-bending. What matters is here and now.” “Time Means Nothing” features Will McFarlane on guitar, recorded in Muscle Shoals, and Cindy Cashdollar with a slide solo recorded in Woodstock, NY.
Meanwhile, King continues on the road with upcoming performances not only in Texas, Iowa, and Illinois, but also aboard the Delbert McClinton & Friends Sandy Beaches Cruise. Departing from Ft. Lauderdale, FL this week, she joins other artists including The Mavericks, Blind Boys of Alabama, Paul Thorn, and Delbert McClinton. King was also recently awarded a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts Rural Tours Initiative. The grant offers the opportunity to take live music to underserved areas of Texas. In March and April, King will perform a series of concerts in select small towns in rural Texas including Athens, Madisonville, and Golinda, with an Alaskan run to follow in April with Carolyn Wonderland’s band.
