Carriers released their debut LP last August, introducing the project as something of a crossover between the dreamy heartland rock of The War on Drugs and the complex orchestrations of Broken Social Scene. Aided by The National’s Bryan Devendorf on drums and The Afghan Whigs’ John Curley on bass, songwriter Curt Kiser delivered nine sweeping ballads often sounding like they’ve been steeped in the unconscious.
Among these is the late-album track “Another Guy,” which, like most of the record’s tracks, extends well beyond the five-minute mark. “It was mainly inspired by a vivid dream I had about seven years ago,” Kiser explains. “It reminds me of the power and comfort that songwriting holds for me, and the value in taking time to realize a song. Sometimes what we need to hear most may come to us through unlikely messengers, like a stranger or a dream. I hope this song encourages listeners to be open to those messages, however familiar the source.”
Today Kiser is revealing a brand new video for the track, an ambiguous series of images of unconscious brain activity looking like they’ve been plugged into your VCR. Like the song itself, the video came from an unlikely source: “The idea of a video began in August, a few days after the song’s premiere,” the songwriter continues. “I received a message from an Instagram user in Poland, Sztuka Naiwna, offering to create a video for the song. He said he’d heard it on David Dean Burkhart’s playlist and was really moved by it. I was cautious since I wouldn’t be able to work very closely with him, but after a couple months he sent over an edit and I loved it. I think he really captured something special for Carriers’ first music video.”
After having the disappointment of a cancelled tour, Kiser is pleased to remain active in some capacity during this uncertain period of quarantine. “I was really looking forward to being active again after a few months of working and preparing to record album two. We were set to play with Caamp, Bendigo Fletcher, Anna Burch, and Quivers from Australia in Cincinnati. As of now, we’ll be playing Bellwether Music Festival in August. It’s a strange time to be a musician. I’m thankful to have something to share with the world right now with so much uncertainty lying ahead.”
Now Is the Time for Loving Me, Yourself & Everyone Else is out now via Good Eye Records—order it here.
