Released back in May, Nowhere, NW marked the debut album from Athens, Georgia–based songwriter Hunter Morris under the Mountain of Youth moniker. The 10-song release is personal both in its lyricism and in its set of influences, ranging from the type of acoustic indie-folk familiar to the broader Strolling Bones Records family to more aggressive rock sounds originating within the grunge canon. “When I started writing these songs as Mountain of Youth,” Morris shared upon the record’s announcement, “it felt like I’d finally found my voice. For the first time, I felt comfortable saying what I needed to say.”
Although Mountain of Youth is largely a solo endeavor, Morris has recruited a full band to play these songs live. Yet as the “Neighborhoods” session he filmed in his backyard in Athens proves, several of these tracks work just as well when stripped down to a duo. “I chose ‘Only in the Wild’ and ‘Nowhere, NW’ because both songs have a similar lyrical theme of exploration of one’s internal self and of the external world we live in,” he explains. “Also, Phillip [Brantley] and I have been playing some shows as a stripped-down duo when it’s more fitting for the bill than a full-band set. These are two of my favorite, slightly different accompaniment arrangements that he’s come up with.”
Regarding some additional assistance he received to achieve the perfect summer’s eve atmosphere for the video, Morris adds: “We thought the natural setting of my backyard here in Athens was appropriate, and the fireflies ended up helping us out with the performance.”
Check out the clip below, and stream Nowhere, NW here.
