Story Behind the Song is a new Isthmus feature where Madison-area songwriters tell the origin stories of their tunes through short videos. The instructions are simple: Once the video camera is up and running, introduce your act, spend a minute or so telling a story about the song you've chosen, and then perform it. Videos should be no longer than six minutes, and those with high-quality sound and pictures are most likely to be selected. Keep the camera steady, record in a well-lit area, and speak as clearly as possible.
We've asked Americana artist Whitney Mann to provide the first few examples, but all Madison-area musicians are invited to submit videos for consideration here.
Though many of Mann's songs have a vintage country vibe, the singer-songwriter uses thoroughly modern composition tools such as a smartphone. Her phone helped her preserve the seed of "I Get Even" until she had more time to cultivate it. The song is rooted in lyrics about a character who no longer cries.
Mann explains how these words led to the tale of a firebrand who's tapped into the anger beneath her sadness. Instead of shedding tears, this woman shares the ugly truth about people who've betrayed her.
Whitney Mann performs at the Catfish River Music Festival in Stoughton on Sunday, July 6, at 6 p.m.
