| Beers, Bikinis & Boats Show Artist’s Playful Side |
Nashville, TN (July 15, 2013) – Mike Aiken’s new “Summertime Song” video, shot on the fourth of July weekend in 95-degree heat and 90-percent humidity at various Virginia locations, shows an entertaining Aiken in full “play” mode. “Summertime Song” is the first single from Mike’s sixth studio album, CAPTAINS & COWBOYS, released in April on Northwind Records. “It’s a fun tune about playing ‘hooky’ from life,” Aiken says with a grin. Co-written by Aiken and Tim Buppert (“She’s Sure Taking It Well,” “Another Nine Minutes”), the track literally sizzles with life and features scorching guitar runs by Aiken and the legendary Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites). The high-spirited number lent itself perfectly to a video that launches at summer’s peak. To help get into the swing of things, Mike actually popped a cold one at 10 a.m. noting, “Sometimes you just gotta cut loose.” Mike wasn’t the only one feeling frisky during shooting: after spending an hour trying (and failing) to communicate with a group of Spanish-speaking vacationers from South America, Aiken was happy to see the video’s producer, Andrew Piland, doing the famous Virginia “lizard dance.” “Poor Andrew was trying to get a particular shot, and the next thing he knew there was a lizard crawling up his leg,” Mike chuckles. “I hate to laugh at the guy, but, man, it was hilarious watching him shake it loose.” Footage taken during that escapade did not make the final cut.
Aiken also loves sharing the view of the southern Virginia area he and his wife currently call home. The two live aboard a 42-foot sailboat and just like in the video, they moor at a marina full of characters straight out of the movies. One of their favorite local attractions is also featured in the clip, and Mike encourages visitors to stop by First Landing State Park for a true “beach” experience. For his fans who are unable to travel to the beach, Mike urges them to grab a cold one and settle in front of their screens for four minutes of escapism the Mike Aiken way. “I want folks to actually feel the sand between their toes when they watch this video,” Mike says with a laugh. “Because a day at the beach beats most days anywhere else.”
Catch up with Mike and follow his antics at http://mikeaikenmusic.com/. |
What did make the finished product are beach and ocean scenes contributed by friends from around the globe. “We used some footage from our own travels,” Mike notes. “But we were also able to incorporate clips from the
