EXCLUSIVE: The Deslondes Premiere Intimate In-Studio Video for Swaggering New Song, 'Moving'

The Deslondes' upcoming album, Don’t Let It Die Vol. 1, finds the New Orleans-forged five-piece tipping their hats. The collection of covers acts as more than homage, though.

The 12-track release – set to arrive on May 22, via New West Records, as the follow-up to Roll It Out from 2024 – celebrates their longtime friends and musical collaborators, such as Nick Woods, Pat Reedy, and the Kernel, just as much as it praises heroes, Swamp Dogg, Johnny Cash, and Clifton Chenier.

Today (Mar. 26), the band – comprising Dan Cutler, Sam Doores, Riley Downing, Howe Pearson and John James Tourville – has shared an offering belonging to the former sect, a re-imagining of their friend Leonie Evans' swaggering opus, 'Moving'.

The Evans song was released in 2020 as a part of the English singer-songwriter's collective musical project, Collaborations Volume 2, in which she welcomed dozens of musicians to freely mold the bones of songs into what they felt fit.

"Leonie Evans could sing anything on her own and cast a spell, so I think it's cool that she is so committed to collaboration," the band's Howe Pearson shared of the number. "This song is on one of her albums of collaborations, with musicians from New Orleans and all over. I like that this communal aspect is built into 'Moving' – the catchy chorus and call-and-response verses automatically bring people together. Props to Leonie for writing a song that brings people together everywhere it goes."

It feels appropriate that The Deslondes took Evans' mission one step further, catching the dregs of the shadowy, sedate 'Moving' and letting it render into a soulful syrup of skittering rhythms and plush harmonies. Throughout the song, their hazy chants of "Moving / Moving / Moving, moving all the time" take listeners to an illusory plane where dreams and reality blur.

They've christened this transportive cover with an intimate, in-studio music video, showcasing how the group gave 'Moving' new life. In the visual, directed by Mike Vanata, the quintet can be seen sailing through the song with an unspoken peace, each artist knowing their part and playing it with uniform grace.

Watch The Deslondes' music video for their new song, ‘Moving’, premiering exclusively on Holler, below:

--

For the full lyrics to 'Moving', see below:

Moving
Moving
Moving, moving all the time
Moving
Moving
Moving, moving all the time

I'm bound to sail (Far away to row)
The ocean will (Become my home)
The sea will choose (What is my fate)
Returning home ('Fore it's too late)

Moving
Moving
Moving, moving all the time
Moving
Moving
Moving, moving all the time

Reality sometimes collides with dreams
Mundane to spectacular can happen overnight it seems

Skipping a season (For the sun)
Life over reason (Beats the drum)
Dipping my toes (Into the sand)
Exploring far (Into new lands)

Moving
Moving
Moving, moving all the time
Moving
Moving
Moving, moving all the time

Moving
Moving
Moving, moving all the time
Moving
Moving
Moving, moving all the time

--

For more on The Deslondes, see below: