Premiere- Adam Klein: People Are Callin
Today we’re premiering “People Are Callin’,” the new video from Adam Klein. Klein just released his album, Holidays in United States, on April 7th. An album full of commentary on the current state of the United States, the track, “People Are Callin’,” doesn’t stray from that theme.
Photo by Jeff Shipman
Written after the initial recording sessions for the album, Klein had this to say about writing the song, “I remember driving to work one morning and coming up with the melody for the verses, and then just chipping away at the rest of the song over a month or two. I heard a decidedly soul-like vibe, and knew I wanted to bring it to Bronson and Matt (Patton) at Dial Back Sound to record it. And I knew it needed to be on this album.” I see the song as a folk rock-rooted take on some of the classic protest songs of soul music. That may seem derivative, but for me every word is heartfelt and rings true. There’s a place for everything, in my opinion, and I think this song was timely and belongs right here on Holidays.
The video is as stark as the subject matter. Shot in black and white with a decidedly minimalist feel; there is no embellishment to be found. It’s just Klein delivering the lines with the sober bearing of a newscaster delivering awful news to a nation. And in a way, this is exactly what Klein is doing.
People are grieving / the government’s deceiving
and decency’s leaving out the back door
Get so tired of fighting each day / of living this way on my own
There’s a virus without and within / oh the color of skin turns to bone
we’re all skin and bones
American souls for hire / city streets are on fire
used to be admired but now a punchline
Don’t wanna carry this anger / don’t wanna feel this danger
no longer a stranger / to your fears and trials
This isn’t a feel-good tune or a light and airy bop, but it is a commentary on the darkness and divided nature that the United States is currently embodying. Much like the folk artists of the 1960’s, who didn’t shy away from their critique of the government and their policies, Klein has channeled this into not only the video we’re premiering today, but in his entire album.
You can watch the premiere of “People Are Callin’” below.
