This is an excellent example of an artistic video that genuinely complements the theme and sound of a song. Director Robert Montgomery has really captured the feel and narrative of ‘Flint & Steel’. Chris Short is joined by singer-songwriter SJ Talbot and their voices come together effortlessly. The back and forth between the singers effectively illustrates the relationship at the heart of the song. The song builds, with electronic flourishes and a contemporary beat making the folk at its centre sound fresh, until it really soars towards the end. That sense of two real people engaged in a dialogue is reinforced as the song closes with Short singing, “But now I’m leaving,” and Talbot’s direct reply, not-quite repetition, “Now you’re leaving.”
Short explains the song’s themes: “Flint on its own doesn’t do much – and steel the same – but if you strike them together sparks fly. So much has to be in place to create the perfect environment, very similar to when two people come together and either connect or not. I also talk about the flip side where getting close to someone is great, but it has the potential to hurt when it goes wrong. Sometimes we take the risk and it pays off, sometimes we don’t allow something more than a one-night stand, as the song goes, ‘and no one gets hurt’.”
This powerful ballad is the third single to be released from Short’s forthcoming EP, ‘Somewhere’, which is due for release in June 2021. Chris Short may be new to you but he has been working towards this release in the Dublin music scene for some years. He’s one to watch.
