Artist of the Day | HUDOST

ARTIST OF THE DAY

06.09.2021

HUDOST

LOCATION

Montreal, QC, Canada & Morgantown, KY, USA

GENRE

Folk-Americana

 

CURRENT MEMBERS

Moksha Sommer
Jemal Wade Hines

With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt? 

When everything came to a halt we had just returned from a couple early 2020 festival dates and were excited to be preparing for big tours. At the time, we were working on a project that included a great deal of in-person collaboration with international artists (which included a lot of travel).

How has that affected your plans for the coming year? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?

We were supposed to be touring all over North America, Europe, and Africa in 2020. When Covid hit, all of those dates were cancelled but we didn’t let it stop us. We were supposed to perform an interdisciplinary piece at OZ Arts in Nashville. We suddenly had to completely re-think how we were going to present the piece and, instead of performing, the dancers were videoed in isolation, we recorded the whole score, and we presented the whole piece as an online premiere. It was a collaboration that received an NEA Grant. With those adaptations and changes, it received a Writer’s Choice award for “Best Move From Live Performance to Video” AND a Readers' Poll tie for “Best Streaming Event” through NASHVILLE SCENE. Since then, in the last year and a half we have written and recorded an entire new album, done several music videos, amazing collaborations, and have just begun touring again. We will be starting full band touring again soon playing several festivals and art centers.

We have a pre-sale going for our new album here: https://hudost.com/crowdfunding-new-album Our new album, ‘Anthems of Home’, is a lush, breathtaking voyage of solid-songwriting and sharp questions asked through the expression of dreams that feels both nostalgic and risky; walking the delicate line of something that makes us feel connected and inspired.

2020 and 2021 have been a time of conflict and resolution, pain and discovery, challenge and grace, fear and courage for almost everyone. It has been a time of loss and awakening. Our new album gives powerful voice to this journey in a way that will remain timeless and will prove the resilience that we all share. It also gives room for the greater vision of what is and what can be and the love that emerges when we allow truth to be seen and spoken.

Our last album, ‘of Water + Mercy’, received rave reviews and, as an independent release, reached #24 in the BILLBOARD SALES CHARTS for Folk/Americana, also winning the Independent Music Award for Social Action Song. ‘Anthems of Home’ continues in this current of Folk/Americana with the added movement of ambient electro in some of the songs and unapologetic groove in others.

We are super grateful to everyone supporting the pre-sale of the new album!!

What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home? How are you supporting your mental health through all of this?

Songwriting does support our mental health! We were also in the situation of home-schooling our child. So, we didn't really have "free time". Yoga, hiking, cooking and eating healthy foods, kayaking, and biking kept us healthy and sane too! We have done our best with all of this and are delighted to be touring behind material that we are very proud of! The music video that you are sharing is from our upcoming album, 'Anthems of Home', that will be released in November.

As things are reopening & restrictions are lifting have you booked any new gigs? Tours? Etc? If your region is still under restriction, how are dealing with the Covid third wave?

We are taking precautions with everything. All of the tour dates that we have done thus far have been outdoors or in very well ventilated spaces with appropriate spacing. We are fully vaccinated but remain concerned for the welfare of others. We will be continuing to do outdoor festivals and art centers through the fall with only one indoor concert (that is in a large theater with spacing). We do hope that people get vaccines for their own health and the health of others (especially children who are still unable to get the vaccine). All of our concerts thus far have been sold out, so we know there is a real need and hunger for live music. We just have to do it in the right way!

Favourite Starlite Room Moment?

Our Publicist, Eric Alper introduced us to Starlite Sessions and we love it! It is especially great checking out the 'Artist of the Day' and the Session's Concerts!

Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?

If we have learned anything in the last year and a half it is patience. Real patience. Not the kind that is dependent upon changing circumstances. Especially going through all of this with a little kid, we had to return to the 'Be Here Now' mentality. I encourage everyone to jump on this boat...there is more in the moment than we know if we are only focused on the future!

If you would like to be our next ARTIST OF THE DAY please fill out this FORM & send a high resolution photo to:
JEN@CONCERTWORKS.CA