The Virginia singer-songwriter, mountain musician, and dancer releases the music video for her track “Blue Ridge Mountain Lullaby,” exclusively with C&I.
Raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, singer-songwriter Martha Spencer grew up in a musical family where she learned to play several instruments. Now, after performing with myriad groups and contributing to several musical projects, Spencer is on the verge of releasing her self-titled debut album.
One of the album’s highlights is “Blue Ridge Mountain Lullaby.” An ode to Spencer’s roots, the song pairs a downtempo beat with her subtle twang for a sweet fiddle-laden perspective on the artist’s upbringing.
“’Blue Ridge Mountain Lullaby’ is basically the story of the sounds and sights of my life growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia,” Spencer says. “I was raised on Haw Orchard Mountain in the Whitetop Mountain area. A lot of family and neighbors played, made instruments, or danced. Most nights I would fall asleep to my Daddy playing fiddle tunes like ‘Soldier’s Joy,’ ‘The 8th of January,’ and ‘Sally Gooden.’ He was always a night owl.
“And I grew up dancing since I was in diapers to my dad’s fiddling and mama’s banjo playing. They would take me to little square dances all through the mountains and festivals. I would fall asleep hearing my mom sing a lot of old songs. And we always had a lot of animals growing up, and I would lie awake at night and hear the hound dogs howling a lot. So this song touches on those aspects of my childhood and how much I love the mountains and my family. I’ve always loved getting out and about, but the mountains have always been my home and seem to call me back. If I ever had a place in this world, I reckon that would be it.”
In tune with the captivating lyrics, the music video for “Blue Ridge Mountain Lullaby” is evocative. Filmed in the beautiful mountain range, its visual presence complements the nostalgia of the song.
“The video was partially shot in September 2018 by my good friend Deana Blevins Kelley, near my home at Grayson Highlands,” Spencer says. “The older footage was from North Carolina Folklife and shot at our family home and includes my folks and Tom and Becky Barr, who played in the Whitetop Mountain Band as well. This was a very sentimental song and video for me, and dedicated to my Daddy.”
Get an exclusive first look at the music video, below.
For more information on Martha Spencer and her upcoming album, visit her website. Photography: Courtesy Christy Baird.
