On my previous blog and website, I had started to incorporate live video sessions for bands during their shows. I didn’t really know all I was doing but got some decent footage and worked with the audio I had recorded on camera via whatever cheap mic I could find on Ebay at that time in 2010. After starting this new venture, I knew I wanted to get back into video sessions but a bit different from what I done before. I wanted to take the bands out of the live environment and shoot in a more controlled setting. I was, and to a certain degree still am, inspired by the folks behind Yours Truly. I got to know a videographer from the team during my time in San Francisco and every conversation or behind the scenes video shoot I got to see was mesmerizing.
Now shooting with a Fujifilm and Youtube being what it is today in 2026, I looked up and learned how to shoot video with my mirrorless. Reviewing my old content, audio was always a huge weakness so I invested in a 4-channel Zoom field recorder and was eager to try out the new set up. I had gotten to know Casey Green (suhns bassist) pretty well over the past few months and he is always thinking of new ideas for the band. I messaged him one afternoon to see if he wanted to do a live video session with the band and he agreed. The shoot was initially going to be on a rooftop but with the wind being as it is in Reno, we decided to change location and move inside. I knew the band was working on an EP so I figured we’d be recording an older song from their discography. What the band ended up performing blew me away. I didn’t know this song. At the time of recording (July 3rd, 2026) there wasn’t even a definite title for the track when I had asked.
The song was beautiful and hearing the band perform acoustic for the first time was something special. Suhns’ live performances are loud and energetic; they’re one of the best live acts to see in town. However, hearing them play softly and melodic, it was quite a special moment. The handpan in the intro of the song happened by chance. The band’s drummer, Tyler Nelson, was unfortunately out of town when the date was selected to shoot. Kobe, a friend of the band, was at the apartment and was playing with the handpan while I was setting up. After the first take, I asked if we could use it as I felt the tone of the instrument would suite the track we were going to record quite nicely.
After about two or three minutes of practice, I pressed record to capture this organic moment of musicians coming together for the song. This next take was amazing. The handpan flowed well into the bassline and body of the track. I used it for the video seen below, even though there were a few filming errors on my end. I felt this take represented our session the best. After the takes, we conducted a shot photoshoot and interview for a soon to be announced zine. Smoke will feature on an upcoming (double) EP, slated to release hopefully later this year.
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