Caroline Cotter – “Enough”
Americana Highways presents this video premiere of Caroline Cotter’s song “Enough” from her recently released album Gently As I Go (August 18). The album was produced by Alec Spiegelman and Caroline Cotter; recorded and mixed by Alec Spiegelman; and mastered by Philip Shaw Bova.
“Enough” is Caroline Cotter on vocals; Sean Trischka on drums; Dandy McDowell on upright bass; Alec Spiegelman on clarinet, bass clarinet, and alto flute; Emily Mure on vocal harmony; and Jefferson Hamer on electric guitar.
We had a short chat with Caroline about this song. The video appears just beneath the interview.
Americana Highways: What inspired you to write this song?
Caroline Cotter: I wrote “Enough” during a particularly low time, when I was feeling desperate and anxious. I was overwhelmed by news stories, the incredible injustice in the world, and the idea that no matter how much I do, it will likely never be enough.
AH: How did it come together?
CC: I was sitting with my guitar and my anxiety and picked out a chord progression that echoed the way I was feeling. It didn’t take long for me to write the rest of the song, speaking to the core question, “When will enough be okay?”
AH: Let’s talk about the video. Who directed it, and whose idea was the video treatment? Where did you film it?
CC: Tom Krueger directed and filmed the video. He came up with the concept, and the two of us had a lot of fun scouting locations in Downeast Maine that would work for his vision. We ended up filming the majority of the video in Acadia National Park, on a rock formation called Great Head. I live close by, and it’s one of my favorite places in the park.
AH: Any fun stories from the video shoot that you can share with us?
CC: We filmed the video in early May in Downeast Maine, which made the ocean plunge particularly challenging. The water temperature was somewhere in the low 40s, and the air was somewhere in the 50s. Tom wore a dry suit to do the filming from inside the water, while I did my best to channel Wim Hof and get the job done. The process felt like it took forever, and I had to take breaks to warm up between takes. Despite the discomfort, we did have a lot of fun with the filming and I’m happy with the way that scene came out, so I think it was worth the pain. 🙂
AH: What message do you hope the song and video have for people who listen and watch?
CC: If you suffer from anxiety, constantly worry about the state of the world, or feel like you can never do or be enough, you are not alone. Being human can feel like a struggle, and existential dread can come and go. Hopefully, we can hang on and come to know that we are enough, whatever we are able to do will be enough, and, ultimately, all will be well. And for those who aren’t as familiar with these thoughts and feelings, I hope this song can be a reminder to have compassion for others who may be struggling. We never know what someone else is experiencing inside.
This video was directed with videography by Tom Krueger. The song is calming in an almost otherworldly way, with gentle vocals and subtle musical arrangements. The video reflecting the recognition that life is short and we all need a balance between doing the right thing and letting ourselves feel a little relief. Wait for the diving scenes. “When will enough be okay?”
Buy/listen link: https://hypeddit.com/cppxd8
Love this song