Nathaniel Rateliff and Gregory Alan Isakov debut new music video for “Flowers”
Colorado musicians Nathaniel Rateliff and Gregory Alan Isakov have been close friends for many years, long before either achieved significant success in the music industry. Rateliff made waves with his soulful rock band, the Night Sweats, while Isakov gained recognition for his heartfelt solo folk work. After years of friendship, they recently joined forces and performed their emotional duet, “Flowers,” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday, February 24. Now, on March 5, they are unveiling the music video for the song, with the talented Colorado filmmaker Taylor McFadden at the helm.
McFadden, who is also Rateliff’s partner, shared her experience of being close to the evolution of the song “Flowers.” She revealed that she had been exposed to various versions of the song over the years as Rateliff and Isakov worked on it intermittently. McFadden expressed her deep connection to the track, candidly admitting that she was unsure if the song would ever be completed and released. However, in December, while in New Mexico, she received the final mix of “Flowers” from Rateliff. This pivotal moment, with the song playing late at night by a fire in Santa Fe, sparked a vivid visual inspiration in McFadden’s mind. Overflowing with creativity, she admitted to constantly imagining music videos in her head. When Rateliff approached her to pitch an idea for the “Flowers” project the following night, McFadden felt as though everything had aligned perfectly for this collaboration.
McFadden’s filmmaking repertoire includes a standout project for Nicole Atkins’ 2020 single “Domino,” which garnered attention and acclaim, even landing a spot in Rolling Stone. The shooting for the music video for “Flowers” took place in January and was a challenging endeavor given Rateliff’s and Isakov’s demanding tour schedules. Isakov, fresh from tour, and Rateliff found a brief window of overlap to squeeze in the filming of the video. The video concept was naturally informed by the song itself, as McFadden delved deep into her creativity to bring their musical vision to life visually.
In conclusion, the collaboration between Nathaniel Rateliff and Gregory Alan Isakov, with the creative direction of filmmaker Taylor McFadden, is a testament to the vibrant artistic community in Colorado. The organic development of the “Flowers” music video showcases the seamless fusion of music and visual storytelling, inviting audiences to experience the emotive journey crafted by these talented artists.