John Mailander’s Forecast Turn Nick Drake’s “Road” into Jam Catalyst, Drop Dalí-esque Animated Music Video

Photo Credit: Michael Weintrob

Nashville collective John Mailander’s Forecast has shared a preview of their forthcoming independent release, Let The World In, due on January 24, 2025, with the arrival of the official music video for their take on Nick Drake’s “Road.” Like the original’s album art, which reflects psychedelic and Dali-esque tendencies, the band’s music video leans into the same surrealist trope, acting as the perfect form of visual semblance alongside acoustics and ditty-presentation of lyrics. 

Whereas the original clocks in swiftly, at under 2 minutes, John Mailander’s Forecast stretches their take on Drake’s 1972 release to the nine-and-a-half-minute mark. Rather than sticking with Drake’s indie-folk presentation, the Forecasters bring the tune into jam territory, building upon the initial composition with layers of instrumental interludes, with particular cachet to Mailander’s incomparable fiddle. This is teamed with space blasts of futurism for a truly one-of-a-kind and extraordinary interpretation.  

John Mailander’s Forecast features namesake John Mailander, handling fiddle, keys, and electronics. Ethan Jodziewicz joins him on upright and fretless electric bass along with Chris Lippincott on steel guitars, keys, and electronics; Mark Raudabaugh on drums and percussion; Jake Stargel on acoustic guitar; and David Williford on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet.

“‘Road’ has been a bit of a mantra to me over the past couple of years,” Mailander offers. “I haven’t always considered myself much of a singer, but it felt important for me to sing this one myself on the album. Lyrically, I feel like it ties into the album’s themes as a whole, and it’s a great vehicle for jamming as a band. This track captures a lot of the vibe of what we do live.”

As a complete set, Mailander says of ‘Let The World In,’ “This album is absolutely connected to   larger themes to me, both in my personal life the past couple of years and in the greater world. All of the stress and noise politically, the overwhelmingness of re-entering life coming out of shutdown times, and the search for inner peace through it all. The music is the explanation of all of this; I’d like the album to remain open to personal interpretations of what that entails. It’s the heaviest record I’ve made sound-design-wise, and I hope for it to flow together as one continuous listening experience that blends rock, jazz, psychedelic, and Americana flavors.”

 The set will be available on Jan. 24, 2025, in CD, vinyl, and digital formats. Pre-save Let The World In. 

Watch the official music video for “Road” below.