Poet and singer-songwriter Chris Bullinger’s latest release, the conceptual double album, Waitin’ To Be Seen, signals a renaissance for the Nashville, Tennessee-based artist.
After dedicating over a decade of his life to a career in the solar energy industry, Chris is making the most of his hard-earned freedom through an outpouring of creativity. Waitin’ To Be Seen is a 23-song record carefully curated to be experienced like a collection of short stories. It will be released in “Part 1” and “Part 2” installments.
As a songwriter, Chris writes about truth more than fact. His songs are earned-wisdom storyteller songs told with a literate flair in the spirit of Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, and Steve Earle.
He believes the process of songwriting — and art in general — comprises three key components: observation, empathy, and rhythm. Accordingly, he is an astute observer of the human condition, often focusing on one key instant, empathizing with it, and then expanding that moment through rhythm.
Waitin’ To Be Seen is a collection of sonic vignettes stylistically split between classic country and classic rock, and loosely threaded through with thematic connections and recurring characters. The album winds through a tumultuous love story between a touring musician and a woman he meets along the way.
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the video for the standout track “Shine,” the idea of which was conceived in the aftermath of the devastating flooding in Asheville following the hurricane. The film was shot entirely in Asheville with a local cast and crew as a way to support and uplift the community during that time. There is a mournful tone that permeates throughout the music and feels reminscent of artists ranging from Justin Townes Earle to Tom Waits. Chris sings with a high level of grit and soul as he channels gospel, Americana, and folk-rock to make for a song that feels unique even with its timeless message of resilience and acceptance. The loping piano, organ, and guitar give the song a bluesy, intimate quality that is accentuated by the visuals that capture pre-show rituals of performers.
Chris describes the inspiration and process behind the video:
Resilience and acceptance are central themes to “Waitin’ To Be Seen.” “Shine” (the shining star track of part 2 of Chris’s latest double album) inspires introspection and the realization that finding one’s “light” has to begin with an often uncomfortable look under the hood at what’s within us—the good and the bad. What can we change, and what can we accept? A lyric video accompanies the song as we await the fully-produced music video by renowned Asheville-based director Simon Bonneau, coming out in early April. The video — which will feature Chris prominently — will follow several performers of all kinds and all ages as they go through their pre-show rituals before stepping into the spotlight to shine.
WATCH:
