On a mournful new ballad, Toronto-born, Auckland-based singer-songwriter Tami Neilson has joined forces with a legendary musician just one letter removed from her own namesake: Willie Nelson.
"Beyond the Stars" comes ahead of Neilson's fifth studio album Kingmaker, due July 15 via Outside Music — the follow-up to 2020's CHICKABOOM!
After the loss of her father in 2015, the country-soul artist penned the duet, written with him in mind, while grieving. Nelson takes on the role in his place, subbing in as Neilson's father's voice in the verse. The emotionally-charged track gains extra potency from the recent loss of Bobbie Nelson, the country great's sister and bandmate, with lines like: "Beyond the stars, I can hear the guitars / They're calling me up to be with you."
"Having Willie be the voice of my father in this duet is just something beyond my wildest dreams," Neilson shared in a statement. "I cried for three days after it was recorded, listening to it and thinking about how absolutely overwhelmed and proud my Dad — a musician and a huge Willie Nelson fan — would have been."
Directed by her brother Todd Neilson, the video was filmed at Nelson's Luck Ranch, where the Canadian got to sing with him last month. Clips from that recent Luck Reunion performance are spliced amid shots of Neilson wandering the picturesque property while donning a stunning yellow dress and crown made of stars.
Watch the video for "Beyond the Stars" below.
Nelson's new album A Beautiful Time is slated for release on his 89th birthday, having shared lead single "I'll Love You Till the Day I Die" back in February.
"Beyond the Stars" comes ahead of Neilson's fifth studio album Kingmaker, due July 15 via Outside Music — the follow-up to 2020's CHICKABOOM!
After the loss of her father in 2015, the country-soul artist penned the duet, written with him in mind, while grieving. Nelson takes on the role in his place, subbing in as Neilson's father's voice in the verse. The emotionally-charged track gains extra potency from the recent loss of Bobbie Nelson, the country great's sister and bandmate, with lines like: "Beyond the stars, I can hear the guitars / They're calling me up to be with you."
"Having Willie be the voice of my father in this duet is just something beyond my wildest dreams," Neilson shared in a statement. "I cried for three days after it was recorded, listening to it and thinking about how absolutely overwhelmed and proud my Dad — a musician and a huge Willie Nelson fan — would have been."
Directed by her brother Todd Neilson, the video was filmed at Nelson's Luck Ranch, where the Canadian got to sing with him last month. Clips from that recent Luck Reunion performance are spliced amid shots of Neilson wandering the picturesque property while donning a stunning yellow dress and crown made of stars.
Watch the video for "Beyond the Stars" below.
Nelson's new album A Beautiful Time is slated for release on his 89th birthday, having shared lead single "I'll Love You Till the Day I Die" back in February.
