Kaitlin Butts takes the director's reins for the new video for "Roadrunner," the title track from her upcoming album Roadrunner!, set to be released on June 28 via Soundly Music. Part travelogue, part comedic farce, the video offers a humorous portrayal of life on the road for Butts and her band, the Mules (formerly known as the Ass-tronauts). The endearing video blends elements of Hee Haw and The Monkees, creating a modern-day mash-up that's both real and delightfully exaggerated. Watch here.

"'Roadrunner' is a reflection of my journey to now; it's the convergence of everything I’ve ever loved: theatre, music, country, and my Oklahoma roots," Butts explains. "The version of me depicted in the video is much closer to what I’m like onstage, where there’s real emotion and truth but also humor and a tendency to poke fun. It’s all those different versions of me at once. In making this music video, I wanted to show the highs and lows and chaotic lifestyle that I love so much."

Feedback on YouTube has been overwhelmingly positive, with one viewer commenting, “Great video for an awesome song. The album is gonna be amazing.” Another remarked, “This song might be a hit! It’s lively and fun and catchy. Plus, it was filmed in my hometown at Billy Bob’s!”

Produced by Oran Thornton (Brent Cobb, Logan Brill), Roadrunner! marks a significant tonal shift from Butts’ 2022 sophomore LP What Else Can She Do, which explored complex themes like addiction, domestic violence, and generational trauma. “With the last album, I wanted to write about the struggles I’d seen people go through or experienced myself, so a lot of the songs had a sadness or darkness to them,” she says. “I feel like Roadrunner! is much closer to what I’m like onstage, where there’s real emotion and truth but also humor and a tendency to poke fun. It’s all those different versions of me at once.”

Roadrunner! features contributions from A-list musicians like multi-instrumentalists Russ Pahl (Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves) and Lex Price (Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum). The album captures a lush and fiery sound informed by Butts' eclectic influences, including outlaw country, strong-minded country-pop, and timeless rock-and-roll.

For Butts, the making of Roadrunner! was a pivotal milestone in her artistic journey, allowing for the fullest expression of her larger-than-life vision, evident in her cinematic videos, dynamic stage presence, and meticulously curated costumes. “Some artists get up onstage in their T-shirts and jeans and do their thing, but what comes naturally to me is the drama and going that extra mile to try to create an immersive experience,” she says. “The more I pull from my musical-theater background, the more emboldened I am. Making this album showed me that little ideas can grow and take on a life of their own, and it’s so exciting to know that sticking with my vision can lead to something bigger than I ever imagined.”

Author: Adam Bailey

Adam is a regular contributor for established press release distribution website Release-News.com. He writes on a wide range of topics including music.