Today's Pick

Ashley Arrison is back with the music video for her latest single "Caged Bird," one of the most thematically and lyrically intense cuts off her debut full-length album, "Hearts on Parade," were created from a love of well-crafted country lyrics and pop melodies, as it addresses an abusive love. Arrison sings from a place of honesty and vulnerability against the backdrop of a stark, pounding piano, which is sure to send chills down your spine.
Arrison's songwriting, lyrical delivery, and heartfelt honesty shine through all of her work and provide a narrative everyone can relate to. Often teased by friends for slow, depressingly-fantastic, slit-your-wrist type songs, Arrison ventures out of her comfort zone on her debut album as she effectively plays with tempos. But let's not get up-tempo confused with feel-good, happy songs by any means. Does she have your attention yet? The intensely personal "Caged Bird," which left the crowd speechless. There's also the equally as heavy, "Caged Bird," a chill-inducing tale of an abusive love. The contrast of Arrison's sweet vocal tone against a stark piano is only magnified by a beautifully eerie string section.
Arrison's musical destiny was framed by the rich and diverse musical heritage that existed in her childhood homes of Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Her life experiences set the compass for her musical expression found on "Hearts On Parade," which is a complete package of gorgeous vocals and a catalog of songs just waiting to be heard and cherished. It plays like a musical journal thanks to mixture of autobiographical elements and imaginative lyrics in each song that are representative of the ups and downs Arrison has faced in life, making the album truly authentic and easy to relate to on multiple levels. Now this sweet southern songstress is launching her own career, touching lives with her gift of heartfelt melodies and stirring lyrics.
The music video, directed by Weiss Eubanks, opens with the singer in a dark, empty room. As the song kicks in, flashes of a girl running in a white dress fly across the screen, interspersed with Arrison in various settings. As the video unfolds, you learn that she is the girl in the white dress trying to flee the scene. The cinematography is stunning and captures the essence of the story - especially as the time lapse kicks in to match the dizzying effect of the song's string section. Check out the full video after the jump.