Mike McKenna Jr. Releases Poetic New Video for “Grassfire,” Filmed on Cape Breton Island
Singer-songwriter Mike McKenna Jr. has unveiled the official video for “Grassfire,” the haunting and heartfelt single off his latest full-length album Smokey Mountain High (released November 1, 2024). Directed by Halifax-based filmmaker Brendan “Moose” Lyle (aka @moosecanfly), the video is a visual love letter to Cape Breton Island, where both the artist and the story behind “Grassfire” were born.
Co-written with Nova Scotia-born, Nashville-based songwriter Makayla Lynn Parry, Grassfire reflects on the emotional embers of a fading relationship. Its sonic landscape—produced by Quinn Bachand (Brishen, Diamond Day)—is grounded by Mike’s signature storytelling, wrapped in a folk-Americana palette with contributions from Beatrix Méthé (Rosier, Diamond Day) on backing vocals and Clayton Linthicum (Kacy & Clayton, The Deep Dark Woods) on pedal steel. The video was filmed deep in the forests of the Mira River region, the same place where McKenna Jr. grew up—and where Grassfire was originally written in 2020 during the pandemic.
“Cape Breton is the physical and emotional setting of this record,” says McKenna. “Flying back from Montreal to shoot it here made complete sense.”
At the heart of the video is McKenna’s beloved ‘85 Dodge Okanagan camper van, a DIY pandemic project that became a mobile writing retreat and creative sanctuary during lockdown. With scenes of crackling campfires, quiet forest walks, and introspective solitude, the visuals echo the recurring themes of Smokey Mountain High: isolation, reflection, and reconnecting with one’s roots in nature.
“Grassfire” stands out as one of the album’s most emotionally resonant tracks, and its new video offers a deeper glimpse into the world McKenna has built—where past and present meet under the ever-changing Cape Breton skies.
Quote From Editor
““Grassfire” hits hard with its honest take on a love that burned fast and faded quick. The lyrics are raw and relatable, and the stripped-back sound lets the emotion take center stage.”
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