LIT Music Awards Platinum Winner - Russ Hewitt

2022

CHASING HORIZONS (feat. Nuno Bettencourt)

Entrant Company

Russ Hewitt

Category

LIT Instrumentalists - Best Instrumental Song

Client's Name

Country / Region:

United States

Initially I came up with the chorus chord progression. I liked the fingerstyle arpeggio motif I was doing but wasn't sure what to do with it. I played it for my producer and he suggested I put it in a 7/8 time signature, from there the song fell into place very quickly. When we recorded the song, I thought the drums and bass were just killing it. Almost like a power trio kind of vibe where everything was locked in. When I was listening back to the song, I kept thinking of Nuno and how he would lock in with EXTREME on funk grooves. I felt this song would be rhythmically and harmonically interesting enough for Nuno to play on, so I reached out.

Every time I've spoken with Nuno, our conversations always lead into Flamenco and Spanish guitar players. He's a big fan of the style and quite knowledgeable. I knew at some point I would want to present him a song and felt this was the perfect one to do so. I had requested that he used a nylon string guitar on it, but said an acoustic would work too or an electric with no distortion. Nuno was very active in the final production of the song, suggesting that I add a quarter note ride or cowbell throughout the song and adding in the hand claps during the solo. His positivity and enthusiasm towards the song and my playing was really encouraging coming from someone of Nuno's stature.

After watching Nuno's video of his solo, I was inspired to do my video in a location that most people have never seen before. I found a small town in the middle of Mexico. It was filmed all in one location outside of the Iglesia De Jalpa. Surrounded by mountains, 30ft high cactus, an old Mission in ruins, and the Church of Jalpa, I couldn't have asked for a better spot. A three hour drive from the nearest airport, I feel confident that no one has filmed a video here.

Credits

Musician
Russ Hewitt
2022
LIT Music
LIT Talent Awards - Espumas
Eleazar Mora

Winner/ Winner's Company

Eleazar Mora Productions

LIT Talent Awards Winner

Category

LIT Music - Best Male Vocalist

Country / Region

United States

2022
LIT Instrumentalists
LIT Talent Awards - Ludwig van Beethoven: In Celebration of 250th Anniversary

Winner/ Winner's Company

Sophia Agranovich

LIT Talent Awards Winner

Category

LIT Instrumentalists - Best Instrumental Music Artist

Country / Region

United States

2022
LIT Talk Show
LIT Talent Awards - Moms Don
Zibby Owens

Winner/ Winner's Company

Moms Don't Have Time To

LIT Talent Awards Winner

Category

LIT Talk Show - Best Influencer

Country / Region

United States

2022
LIT Songwriting
LIT Talent Awards - A Maiden Made Not of Clay

Winner/ Winner's Company

Shumile_Exotic Dimensions

LIT Talent Awards Winner

Category

LIT Songwriting - Traditional

Country / Region

United States