Randy Houser announces ‘Magnolia’ film

Film corresponds with album of the same name due in January 2019

Randy Houser announces that he will release a feature narrative film to correspond with his highly-anticipated new album, Magnolia. The Magnolia film embodies the sentiment of the album’s lyrics and will feature several live performances by Houser himself, including the lead single off the album, “What Whiskey Does,” which is currently Top 40 and climbing. The album, set to be released on January 11th, draws its name from the “Magnolia State” which inspired the homegrown, organic sound Houser has spent the last two years cultivating.

The film is set in Houser’s home state of Mississippi and follows two characters (Ana and Noah) in the midst of an intense relationship, marred by their personal lives. Centered around a small group of oil rig workers, the visual representation of the album mirrors the blue-collar sentiments of Houser’s Magnolia lyrics as the small Gulf Coast town provides the perfect backdrop to highlight his rootsy melodies and swampy guitar licks. In the film, Houser plays a local singer at the town dive, performing several songs off the album throughout the film.

Magnolia tells my story but also tells the story of running away from something while not knowing exactly what you’re running to,” Houser says. “As I got into the groove of creating this album, the story became so vivid in my mind that I realized it had to live through more than just a body of music and become a film. That’s exactly what we created… a film about running towards your truth.”

After garnering millions of sales, four No. 1 hits, countless sold out shows, a slew of national television appearances and several award nominations, Houser, feeling uninspired, opted to slow things down and set up camp in his good buddy and co-producer Gattis’ studio in East Nashville to recalibrate and rediscover his passion. He spent nearly two years fully invested in his songwriting which resulted with Magnolia and a new sound that is unpolished yet authentically Houser.

Magnolia has been my beacon of light and restored my spirit and my truth,” says Houser. “It’s also the most daring and honest piece of work I’ve made in my life.”

Houser’s fingerprints can be found on every inch of the project, having co-wrote every song on the album (and playing lead guitar on many of the songs) and serving as executive producer for the film. Directed by Justin Nolan Key, an established music video and documentary director who has worked with Taylor Swift, Maren Morris and the Country Music Association, the film was authentically shot in the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.

Houser will host several screenings of the film for select audiences leading up to his album launch with additional details will be announced in the coming weeks. The album, originally scheduled for release on November 2nd via Stoney Creek Records, was pushed back to January 11th to correspond with the film.

Last month, Houser announced the delay. “I’m excited to share my new album, Magnolia, with you. I’ve spent the last two years working on it with a completely different creative process that has allowed me to focus on making music in a way I haven’t been able to in the past. In that spirit, my team and I envisioned different ways to introduce this new music,” Houser shares. “While we were hoping to have the album next month, we’ve decided to move the release to January 2019 to make sure the music is shared as we originally envisioned. I couldn’t be more proud of this album and have been working on something really special to accompany it that I can’t wait for you to check out. Thank you for your patience and continued support.”

Fans can enjoy album cuts “No Stone Unturned,” “New Buzz,” “Mamma Don’t Know” and the album’s lead single “What Whiskey Does,” which debuted at country radio as No. 1 Most Added and Rolling Stone immediately dubbed “a classic tears-and-twang drinking song.”

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com