Consummate Soul Man Chris Pierce released his latest single and video Trouble Man on Calabama Recordings on International Women’s Day during Women’s History Month. The track is a powerful reinterpretation of a 1972 Marvin Gaye song, reimagined and seen through the female lens. The video features Renee Goldsberry (Altered Carbon, Hamilton), Taryn Manning (Orange Is the New Black, Hustle & Flow), Kristin Bauer van Straten (True Blood), Brit Morgan (Supergirl), Rachel True (The Craft), Tara Buck (True Blood, Ray Donovan), Marieh Delfino (The Invitation), Amelia Rose Blaire (Scream: The TV Series) and Japanese pop star Yuna Ito. A special cameo includes Gina Maisto Smith, a highly accomplished lawyer who is a leader in the field of institutional response for sexual and gender-based harassment and violence.
The video for Trouble Man was conceived in the spirit of activism with the hope to bring continual awareness and dialogue to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement. The intention is to add to the larger conversation about female empowerment and the importance of men joining the fight for female equality.
Tara Buck. Photo courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings.
Renee Elise Goldsberry. Photo courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings.
Pierce teamed up with She & I Productions, a newly launched company headed by actors Tara Buck and Marieh Delfino, committed to distributing content that empowers women both in front of, and behind the camera.
Taryn Manning. Photo courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings.
Kristin Bauer van Straten. Photo courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings.
The video will go live on both the She & I and Chris Pierce websites. An online community and outreach resource list for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence is offered on She & I. Women visiting the site will be able to access national resources tailored to need and specific location throughout the United States.
Pierce traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record Trouble Man with the legendary Swampers and Muscle Shoals Horns. The song was recently released as part of his critically acclaimed album You’ve Got To Feel It! on Calabama Recordings. Elmore says, “His powerful vocals, just as feverish and unrestrained as they are smooth, exuberant and tender.”
Pierce is a highly respected member of the Los Angeles music community. He co-wrote the hit song We Can Always Come Back to This, which was prominently featured on the #1 US Primetime TV show This Is Us. The song charted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart as well as Top 20 on the Billboard Rock and R&B charts. He is also a 2018 Guild of Music Supervisors nominee for “Best Song/Recording Created for Television”.
From Chris Pierce: "I searched deep in my heart to find a personal connection when I had the honor to record the song Trouble Man by Marvin Gaye in Muscle Shoals, Alabama last year. I thought about the intended perspective of the song and the importance of developing my own personal perspective, aligning in unison with my own life and the people that I care about. Soon after we recorded the song, the long overdue conversation surrounding so many women’s horrid experiences with men of power in the entertainment industry and beyond was being brought to light and I had a vision for a current perspective of the song and lyrics, through the power of feminism.
I was raised primarily by my mother, who we had the honor of featuring in the music video. Her priority since the mid/ late 1960’s has been to bring to the forefront, the urgency of the fight for women’s rights. Her and my Godmother, who also raised me, were the first in their circle to join NOW (National Organization for Women) -- and they continue to protest for women’s rights to this day. I consider myself a fortunate man, having been raised with the understanding of the importance and power of feminism and the importance of bringing the conversation to the forefront.
With the release of this new recording and video of Trouble Man, my hope is to add to the conversation through artistic expression and speak directly to the human heart through soulful imagery in the hope that it leads to personal responsibility, leading to action. As a man, I challenge all men to hear loudly women’s accounts of courage and agony and take a deep look within.“
As noted above, all photos courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
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