“Every time I see the sun, it’s like my life has just begun,” bluegrass superstar Billy Strings sings on “Stratosphere Blues / I Believe In You”, the latest single from his forthcoming new album, Highway Prayers. That line’s thematic openness to renewal and wondrous interest in the cosmos both come into play in the accompanying video for the ethereal, two-part track, now available to view on YouTube.
From the zonked-out psychedelic haze of “Stratosphere Blues” to the sobering, learning-to-navigate-choppy-waters aesthetic of “I Believe In You”, the two-part, six-minute track/video pair retro-surrealist tendencies with stark flashes of real-life perspective to mystifying effect—so mystifying, in fact, that it’s easy not to notice that this hasn’t really been a bluegrass song until the first hints of audible banjo appear through misty effects more than five minutes in.
“This is probably my favorite piece of music off the new record,” said Strings, real name William Apostol in a Facebook post about the new song(s). “I veered off and followed my instincts.. even though I barely knew what I was doing on protools at the time (still don’t) 😂.”
“I made the first part late one night when I was at home messing around on the stratosphere guitar (a 12 string guitar with each pair of strings tuned in harmonic intervals. Some major 3rds some 5ths I think? I’m not sure but it’s a really cool sound,” he continued. “The first time I heard it was [‘Stratosphere Boogie’ by Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West]. It started when the main guitar part revealed itself to me. After I recorded that guitar part, then I recorded myself whistling this little melody over the chords .. then I thought, ‘Well what if it wasn’t a whistle at all and if that melody belonged to the lyrics?’ So I took the whistle out and wrote words to fit that melody.. I just chased it for a minute and it presented itself to me and I’m soo happy it came together. To me this was always a 2 part thing. Not really sure why, it’s just the way it wanted to come out.. the second part (I believe in you) is maybe some of the realest shit I’ve written.. from the mire. From the part of my heart that just wants everyone that is struggling to be okay. I believe in you , it’s true.”
Highway Prayers marks Billy Strings’ first studio release since his 2022 father-son team-up LP Me/And/Dad and his first solo studio collection since 2021’s Renewal. The 20-track LP, co-produced by Billy Strings and Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Mac Miller, Aimee Mann) was announced on August 2nd alongside the release of its lead single, “Leadfoot“.
Recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville, the album features Strings and his longtime band—Billy Failing (banjo, vocals), Royal Masat (bass, vocals), Jarrod Walker (mandolin, vocals) and Alex Hargraves (fiddle)—as well as additional contributions from Jon Brion (co-producer, bass, drums, percussion), Matt Chamberlain (drums), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Jason Carter (fiddle), Lindsay Lou (backing vocals), Nathaniel Smith (cello), Taneka Samone (backing vocals), Cory Henry (piano), Peter “Madcat” Ruth (harmonica, jaw harp) and Victor Furtado (clawhammer banjo).
Below, watch the official music video for “Stratosphere Blues / I Believe In You” by Billy Strings and view the full list of video credits. Scroll down to see the full tracklist for Highway Prayers, due out on September 27th, 2024.
Billy Strings – “Stratosphere Blues / I Believe In You” (Official Music Video)
Billy Strings — “The Making Of ‘Stratosphere Blues / I Believe In You'”
Billy Strings will remain busy on the road this fall with dates at a string of notable amphitheaters and arenas across the country. Find tickets to upcoming Billy Strings concerts here. Click below for a full list of dates.