Chris Bullinger runs away and joins the circus in the vibrant animated video for his new single Payin’ Dues — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The latest preview of the singer-songwriter and poet’s upcoming album Waitin’ To Be Seen — due Aug. 23 — the Payin’ Dues video brings to life the song’s old-timey circus atmosphere with a modern twist, encapsulating the song’s spirit of revelry and deep emotional exploration. Imagine Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam joining forces with Dr. John, Tom Waits and J.J. Cale — then toss in some vintage duds and maybe even a few hallucinogens — and you’re on the right track.
“To reflect the traipsing revelry of the song, we approached the video in a mixed-media fashion,” Chris explains. “We got to raid Nashville Repertory Theatre’s costume and prop warehouse for old-timey circus ringmaster costumes and fortune teller mementos.” The result is a visually stunning piece that combines live-action footage with animated elements, creating an immersive experience that is both captivating and eerie.
The video features Nashville photographer Courtney Eckdahl’s striking still images of Chris and model Sheridan Foody, brought to life through the animation wizardry of Texas producer/designer/animator Andrew Knives. This blend of photography and animation adds layers of depth to the already rich narrative woven throughout Bullinger’s music. The track features layered instrumentation of vibrant horns, chunky guitar riffs, and twinkly keys, all tied together by Chris’s gruff vocals.
Payin’ Dues arrives as the album’s midpoint and serves as a thematic cornerstone. “It follows the meeting, breakup, self-reflection, and, maybe, reconciliation of the singer and gal he meets along the way,” Chris shares. “And it’s right here at this halfway point where — after being alone, together and then alone again — the singer admits that although they split, maybe, just maybe, he’s the one who lost his way.”
Musically, Payin’ Dues evokes the vibrant atmosphere of an old-time sideshow, weaving a soundscape of layered instrumentation — vibrant horns, chunky guitar riffs, and twinkly keys — all underscored by Chris’s distinctly gruff vocals. “It’s a stomp of a song — think Dr. John and J.J. Cale — about bubble baths and garden paths and getting shot on a rocket into outer space,” Chris shares.
Payin’ Dues follows the release of the single Darlin’ ’n’ Me, which finds the songwriter reflecting on the beauty seen through a loved one’s eyes, framed by psychedelic lyrics and a compelling rock groove. Darlin’ ’n’ Me is a frolic alongside the notion of how beautiful someone can be through a loved one’s eyes, embodying the album’s overarching narrative of seeking authentic connections,” Chris shared upon its release.
To date, Chris has recorded five critically acclaimed albums. His 2022 album, True Rendition and 2023’s How to Bleed was No. 1 Added on NACC Folk. He’s garnered 100k monthly listeners and over 2.8 million video views. As a songwriter, Chris believes the process of songwriting — and art in general — comprises three key components: Observation, empathy, and rhythm. Accordingly, he is an astute observer of the human condition, often focusing on one key instant, empathizing with it, and then expanding that moment through rhythm.
Waitin’ To Be Seen marks a pivotal moment in his career, and is a testament to his profound ability to translate the human experience into music that resonates. It’s a collection that promises to captivate and connect, reflecting both the nuances of individual stories and the universal truths of our shared human condition.
Waitin’ To Be Seen (Part 1) Track List
1 | One Complete Connection
2 | Ain’t Life Grand
3 | Doin’ Bad Good
4 | Darlin’ ‘n’ Me
5 | Up All Night
6 | Carving Tree
7 | Already Broke
8 | The Way Things Go
9 | I’m Not Comin’ Back Home
10 | Gotta Save Yourself
11 | Temporary Baby
12 | Payin’ Dues
Check out Payin’ Dues above, hear more from Chris Bullinger below, and see him on his website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
