At the beginning of April, AV Super Sunshine released the music video “Wedding Song”. Since its release, the song has captured the hearts and ears of romantics around the world.
With shimmering splashes of color and frissons of the psychedelia of the 60s, “Wedding Song” conjures up the delicious sound of the Beatles, mixed with The Byrds, as well as jangly shades of contemporary pop.
“Wedding Song” was written by AV for his wife Philomena to commemorate their first anniversary and expresses the essential feeling of love – and goes straight to the heart.
Directed by AV and Philomena, the video shows the couple posing in wedding attire in front of a frozen Wisconsin lake. After AV stepping out onto the frozen surface of the lake, the couple get in their car and head south towards Florida to film as they roll through heavy traffic, cities, and intense rainstorms. Once in Florida, they immediately stroll to the beach, again in their wedding attire.
Heartfelt, intimate and full of optimism, “Wedding Song” embodies the thrill, feeling and meaning of weddings – the consecration of love.
Muzique Magazine spoke to AV Super Sunshine to find out how “Wedding Song” took shape, what it’s listening to, and how it got the name AV Super Sunshine.
How did you get into music? What’s the backstory there?
I hosted an open microphone for all ages in a large coffee house in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which enabled Philomena and I to help many younger musicians and songwriters. I used this time to improve my songwriting skills as well.
We’d invite the high school kids hanging out in the park across the street and wrap up the space for up to 100 kids. I would start with all of the songs I was working on right now. I was listening to the audience and whenever I heard speaking in any part of a song I knew that part needed improvement. I would rewrite these sections and try again next week. As soon as a new song could catch the attention of the room for its entire duration, I would consider it done and add a new song to my weekly mix. It wasn’t long before I had several album worth of material.
Because of this hard work, I was invited to a songwriting clinic from which I was invited to Fort Wayne, Indiana to record with some famous Nashville players in a world class studio. Because of this success, I was invited to Nashville to record at RCA Victor Studio A, where Elvis, Dolly Parton and the Monkees recorded among others. There I became AV Super Sunshine.
What’s the story behind the name AV Super Sunshine?
While recording in Nashville, I got the name from my producer, Grammy-nominated songwriter James House. One of the songs we recorded was “Super Sunshine Girl” and my initials are AV. James combined the two and came up with the name AV Super Sunshine. It stuck and I like it because I wrote the song “Super Sunshine Girl” about Philomena.
What inspired your single / music video “A Wedding Song”?
Philomena and I were celebrating our first wedding anniversary and the gift theme was paper. I’m not good at paper craft so I decided to write her a song. During our first year of marriage, we had remembered how much we enjoyed our wedding and how great it would be if we could relive it with friends and relatives. It is a song that captures a joyous day and one for anyone who has or will experience the simple joy weddings.
For the video we wanted to film outdoors with green foliage like the typical spring or summer wedding. It was winter at the time. After brainstorming, Philomena and I came up with the idea of ??a honeymoon on the beach, but only to find the frozen water and bare leaves. To make their dream come true, our couples get in their car and head south until they find a warm beach, green foliage, and a warm breeze. We drove for 4 days and filmed 2 days and as a bonus we also had a lot of time alone together.
Where was the video filmed and who filmed it?
I think both Philomena and I shot the music video depending on who used which camera. It was shot primarily at our lake house in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, Florida. The driving scenes were recorded while driving along the drive, for example the Chicago Loop driving sequence.
What do you hope your fans / listeners take with them when they hear your music?
First and foremost, I hope they’ll be entertained. When they get the stories and messages in my lyrics, that’s even cooler. When they are inspired to get up and dance, then I do my job and give people more strength.
Which musicians / singers have influenced you the most?
I like David Bowie’s artistry, Mick Jagger’s energy, and Johnny Cash’s honesty, but I grew up listening to a lot of classic and pop rock.
Which artists are you listening to right now?
As an artist competing against the best songwriters in the world, I hear music differently than if I were primarily consuming music. When listening to music, the main thing that matters is to check out the songs my musical colleagues are playing around me to see how I could be a better fit with them. Artists I currently work with on the global contemporary adult charts and global rock airplay charts include the Black Keys, Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper, Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters, Jonas Brothers and Lady Gaga and Post Malone.
Do you have a guilty music and / or entertainment treat?
We have a film with Philomena and me that is currently being shown at film festivals. We actually won multiple awards, so I think Philomena and I can add award-winning filmmakers and actors to our accomplishments.
Why are you making music
That’s what I do. That’s all I think about That’s the best way to communicate.
What’s next in the future for AV Super Sunshine?
We are having a really great ride on the radio and recording more and more stations with every new song. My promoter told me that he has delivered over 1900 radio station downloads so far and that the radio really likes this song. We’ll soon be performing this song on several national television shows including CBS Saturdays, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Tamron Hall Show, and look forward to officially announcing the dates. There are a few other exciting things about national network television. We’ll be releasing a new single in July as we’re preparing to film the music video. So stay tuned.
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