Drawing us in with an ethereal energy with brassy exuberance and playful rhythmic interplay, Little Brown Jug Brass opens My North Star Home with a cosmic vibe and sublime, warm vocals from Ashley Ghostkeeper.
The track boasts a vibrant foundation of trumpet, trombone, sousaphone and drums which truly manifests in a highly unique sonic frequency that feels apt for the theme of the track – bringing to life festive and communal notions with a high emotional quotient.
We are fully captivated by the flow of the track and the intertwined dialogue between brass and vocals. Ashley Ghostkeeper performs with a raw authenticity and there is a cinematic quality to her storytelling. It is perfectly suited to moments of reflection in holiday films, or even a scene exploring family and memory in a drama series.
Lyrically, My North Star Home taps into themes of ancestry, loss and guidance. We learn that Ashley Ghostkeeper wrote the song from the imagined perspective of her mother, in turn reflecting on the passing of her grandfather who was the family’s “North Star”.
The song’s narrative is mirrored in the accompanying music video which feels like a Christmas movie in itself – epic, with masterful cinematography. The video features Ashley Ghostkeeper‘s cousin as her mother and her grandfather’s photograph serves as a symbolic anchor. Ashley herself appears as a guiding spirit.
As for the creative team, Jevon “Tubaguy” Hills commands the sousaphone with gravitas and tenderness, whilst Mark “Re-Pete” Scholz, Paul “Baby Phat” Scholz, and Sydney “Squidney” Scholz layer their trumpets. Nick “Short Stack” Ibarreta’s alto sax provides melodic nuance, Andrew “Pete” Scholz and Malcolm “The Silver Fox” McKenzie perform trombones, and Celene “Yo Ma-ma” Yohemas shares her skill on drums. Tarra “The Velvet Foghorn” Riley adds additional vocals.
The track is designed to showcase a taster of Little Brown Jug Brass’s album, Holiday Spirits, which is out now! Naturally, we have added My North Star Home to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the entirety of Holiday Spirits!