Joey + Rory
Country Husband-Wife Duo Joey+Rory Poke Fun At Music Industry "Suits" With "Play The Song" Video
Duo Receives Praise on Their Authenticity from The Los Angeles Times
(May 7, 2009) -- NASHVILLE, TN -- Studs and leather, leisure suits and 80s prom dresses aren't what anyone would expect from country traditionalists Joey+Rory. But that's the point.
The newest video released by the pair for their second single "Play the Song," pokes a little fun at the record industry's tendency to want to tweak and change what already works so well -- in Joey and Rory's case the pure blend of their voices and songwriting that comes straight from the heart.
Fans already know the tongue-in-cheek second release from Joey Martin and Rory Feek's debut album, The Life of a Song, but they may be surprised at the humorous new video directed by Peter Zavadil. Joey experiments with blue hair and spangles while Rory trades in his well-known overalls for fringes and facial piercings. Record execs confuse the couple's names. But all the while, through their signature harmony, the pair asks to let the fans decide and just "Play the Song."
In many ways, the new video (now in heavy rotation on CMT and other video outlets) reflects so much of the couple's hard work to get to where they are while staying true to their natural chemistry and authentic charm. Their rise on the CMT reality show "Can You Duet" last season was capped by judge Naomi Judd advising the pair to avoid pressure they may receive from executives in "the business" and to never trade in their unique sound and look.
In an interview last week with Los Angeles Times writer, Randy Lewis, Joey explains, "(Naomi Judd) told us, 'Whatever you do, don't change. You have something real, and no matter what the suits tell you, stay true to who you are,'" Joey said. "That really validated what we're trying to do."
The video isn't much of a stretch from our own personal experience in the music industry" explains Rory with a laugh. "Joey had meetings like this as a solo artist and I, as a songwriter have often had the 'pleasure' of songs being picked apart by music row executives. It's amazing the hoops you have to jump through sometimes to get your music heard and I wrote the song out of those frustrations as well as similar experiences of folks in town who want to make it in the business but remain authentic.
"Everyone has an opinion about what will and won't work," adds Joey, "but one thing we have learned along the way is to be true to who you are, present honest music and let the fans decide.
As for the video, they add, "Some of our songs have really strong messages so we like to lighten it up by having a good time. The message is still there, but it's a lot more fun to deliver it that way - we don't ever want to take ourselves too seriously."
Wednesday the LA Times featured the pair again and Lewis praised the "Play the Song" video. He added that their third runner-up finish on "Can You Duet" has allowed them the artistic freedom to create an album true to the couple's roots.
"It has several standouts," Lewis wrote, "among them 'Sweet Emmylou,' a nod to the queen of alt-country music, Emmylou Harris, and 'To Say Goodbye,' a deeply moving elegy to love that doesn't die."
Fans have been seeing a lot of Joey and Rory lately, and there's more to come. The couple (along with their hound Rufus) just wrapped a third national TV commercial for Overstock.com, they will be making several appearances at the CMA Fest coming up in June and will appear on the upcoming CMT Awards.
Signed to Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records alongside a venerable roster of alternative country, bluegrass and Americana greats, Joey+Rory's musical journey together is just beginning. For more information and tour dates go to www.joeyandrory.com
###
Contact:
Kathy Best
FrontPage Publicity
Kathy@frontpagepublicity.com
615-383-0412
Kelly Hobbs
FrontPage Publicity
Kelly@frontpagepublicity.com
Donica Christensen
Sugar Hill Records
DonicaC@sugarhillrecords.com
615-297-6890