(Photo credit: YouTube)
At the dawn of the 1960s, as folk went electric, the California Sound was born. It was a time of wide-eyed, sunny optimism, centred around surfing, cars and fun, fun, fun in the sun; transforming a local lifestyle into American mythology.
As the ‘60s progressed, the ‘California Sound’ evolved to reflect a more musically ambitious and socially conscious culture, fueling innovation and transition as artists tackled themes of sexual freedom, drugs, war and other counter-culture motifs.
In an epic new music documentary, Andrew Slater … a former music journalist, record producer and label executive … explores the influence of the definitive ‘California Sound’, cemented by artists like the Beach Boys, the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Mamas and the Papas. The star-studded trailer features interviews with Brian Wilson, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr and more, recounting the explosion of pop music that came from the canyon and the influence these artists had on the generations of songwriters to follow. Watch below!
The trailer kicks off with the late, Tom Petty, announcing that “California was like this legendary paradise,” before plugging in a signature Rickenbacker electric guitar in what was his last film interview. “Laurel Canyon became this heavenly place,” Eric Clapton recalls, and Ringo Starr notes that he “fell in love” with the scene.
Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young, the Beach Boys, The Mamas and the Papas are all given a shout out as artists like Beck and Fiona Apple reflect on the influence this fertile period of sonic exploration had on generations of artists to come. Throughout the clip, songwriters recall the magic of a collaborative renaissance, when bands showed up at each other’s’ houses, inspiring and contributing to each other’s songwriting.
In a statement about the film, executive producer and star, Jakob Dylan expanded on this theme. “The best test of songwriting is that it transcends its moment in time,” he said. “And there is no doubt that the songs we explore in this film are as powerful today as they were in 1965.” [via Rolling Stone]
Echo in the Canyon, which premiered at last year’s Los Angeles Film Festival, also includes appearances from Regina Spektor, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jacksone Browne, and many more. It was directed by Andrew Slater and executive-produced by Jakob Dylan. US release dates are set for June, let’s hope Aussie screenings won’t be far behind!
While we wait, remember the late & great Tom Petty with our American Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers playlist on Spotify:
Catch up on all the Tom Petty Essentials on Apple Music:
