Now a decade into their musical partnership, Mark Charles Heidinger and Rose Guerin, who make up the Louisville, Kentucky based Americana duo Vandaveer, sing with a near familial tightness. So, it’s only appropriate that their music video for “Love Is Melancholy,” the title track from their just released EP, turned into a bit of a family affair. Rather than relying on an expensive, elaborate production studio to create the12^th music video in their collection, Heidinger enlisted his former college professor and friend, Kurt Gohde, who in turn recruited some unexpected creative consultants: his 10 year old daughter, Lily, and 14 year son, Mason. Four months after they began, the family team had the clever, touching video that Elmore is premiering today.

The track is one of three tracks from the band’s Love Is Melancholy EP, which was released 10/21 as a continuation of Vandaveer’s latest full length—and first for Sony/RED imprint WhiteSpace Records — The Wild Mercury, which was released earlier this year. Though Heidinger and Guerin have been performing together since meeting in the Washington DC folk scene, upon relocating to Kentucky, they brought multi-instrumentalists J. Tom Hnatow and Justin Craig and drummer Robby Cosenza on board to flesh out the group’s sound.

Of the video for “Love Is Melancholy,” Heidinger tells Elmore, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kurt Gohde on a number of collaborative projects (album art, music videos, installations, etc.), but this is the first time he enlisted his kids as reinforcements. Mason and Lily might grimace when they hear it, but I may insist on their participation going forward. The Gohdes came to us with a brilliant concept and we’re thrilled with the end result. Love is a melancholy thing mostly, but it also yields genuine moments of real joy. For my part, this video is one of them.” The video is a whimsical contrast to the ethereal, close harmonies of the duo and the bittersweet message of the song. It beckons for multiple plays, if only to catch all of the clever and strange little moments that reflect the lyrics in surprising, humorous and touching ways.

Connect with Vandaveer on Facebook and their website. Catch the band on tour in November, and watch the lyric video for “Love Is Melancholy” below.

11/1 – Memphis, TN – Lafayette’s Music Room
11/2 – Franklin, TN – Music City Roots
11/3 – Chattanooga, TN – The Camp House
11/4 – Newport, KY – The Southgate House Revival
11/5 – Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
12/31 – Washington DC –  The Hamilton