Video Premiere: Chris Murphy “Early Grave”

2022 Chris Murphy Two Rivers Crossing album cover 2 — Photo credit: Eric Stoner

Now, this is how to play the violin. Brilliantly-talented multi-instrumentalist Chris Murphy works his fiddle with freedom and fluency against the backing of a stomping beat that makes the listener want to dance and sway. Despite the moody song-title, ‘Early Grave’ is delightfully upbeat and uplifting, both sonically and lyrically. From Murphy’s opening lines: “Sun rises and wakes me up // Gratitude pours into my cup,” we are hooked and lifted. The video, put together by Harmony Gerber, was filmed at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano and The Compound Studio in Long Beach, California and it’s as bright and light as the song itself, with Murphy’s enthusiasm for performing evident throughout.

‘Early Grave’ is the opening song from Murphy’s brand new six-song EP, which features original music and lyrics that showcase his fiddle-playing skills. The songs are enhanced by upbeat rhythms and loops that make for a fresh, adventurous sound. The overall effect is a real contrast to his last album, on which Murphy worked with a huge host of respected collaborators. This time around, the approach was very different, as he explains: “I really wanted to record the songs this time in the same manner I perform a solo show; just me playing acoustic with live looping. I like the freedom, the open space, the blank canvas, and the ability to accommodate the audience when I perform solo. But mostly, I am a guy who appreciates minimalism and simple song forms. Like Robert Johnson singing the blues and playing his guitar, why not sing my music with only violin? I tried to recreate that ‘live show’ atmosphere in this collection. Think of it as your own private house concert.”

Murphy is a hugely prolific writer, with more than 500 songs and 20 albums to his name. There’s a bit of everything in his music: country, folk, blues, jazz and more, all worked together into a satisfying blend of styles. The Los Angeles singer-songwriter is to be commended for bringing a little brightness and joy into our lives through his infectious melodies. check it out.