For the final preview from her forthcoming EP, Brighter Blue, multi-instrumentalist Valerie June has joined forces with Sam Amidon to cover the blues standard, “Trouble in Mind” – a beautiful and barnstorming classic that highlights June’s remarkable vocal force and Amidon’s fiddle and banjo prowess. In just a few short minutes, we’re pulled through a history of rural music, both forlorn and euphoric, that speaks of dust-swept backroads, personal trauma, and the ever present spark of hope in our lives. Covered by artists such as Muddy Waters, Nina Simone, and Lightin’ Hopkins, the song is part of a powerful musical lineage, and it’s one that June and Amidon navigate and express through a fiery and inimitable dialogue.
“The most transformative moments of my life have come when I found the courage to face my fears—to feel them fully and discover the stillness that remains when the storm passes,” June explains. “There is perhaps no better song to capture the journey from hardship toward happiness than the old blues song ‘Trouble in Mind.’ Rooted in sorrow yet reaching toward hope, it reminds us that even in our darkest moments, something within us continues to sing.”
Watch the video below.
Brighter Blue is due out this Friday on Concord. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
