Electro-Soul Artist Ishi’s New ‘Sweet Gold’ Should Be on Your Summer Soundtrack

Electro-Soul Artist Ishi’s New ‘Sweet Gold’ Should Be on Your Summer Soundtrack

Ishi

LOCATED ON THE border of Texas and Louisiana, near the sparsely populated town of Uncertain (not a typo), lies Caddo Lake — a vast, 25,400-acre lake and bayou, now an internationally protected wetland, known for its cypress forests and the occasional appearance of Bigfoot.


Caddo Lake is also the setting of new, beautifully shot and edited video by Houston electronic soul man Ishi, a.k.a. JT Mudd, for the title track of his album Sweet Gold. The video premieres today, as does an electronic remix of the track, featuring Mudd and singer Nia Brock’s original vocals, on all digital platforms.

“We didn’t see one alligator!” says Mudd a bit incredulously of the Caddo Lake shoot, before explaining the locals enjoy tailgating on boats parked on the knee-high water, which deters the presence of any pesky reptiles.

Filmed back in 2021, the “Sweet Gold” video was directed by Kyle Elrod of the Dallas-based media production company Firsteye Media, but the concept and overall visual trip is pure Ishi. “I’d been wanting to do a shoot at Caddo Lake for some time,” says Mudd. “The song ‘Sweet Gold’ seemed suited for the location.”

In the video, Mudd and his equally sartorial counterpart, Shiva, wearing the same gold lamé dress she wears on the cover of Sweet Gold, look quite at home on the bayou. The lush, fecund environment of Caddo Lake perfectly complements the plaintive arrangement and delivery of the song, a “folk ballad” with lyrics like, “I found love in the secret garden . . .” sung by a man known for his skills as a DJ. (On Saturday, Aug. 6, at 6 p.m., Ishi will perform a DJ set at the Heights Theater for White Linen Night.)

Also appearing in the video is the infamously run down shack Dick and Charlie’s Tea Room, that, according to local legend, was once a prohibition-era speakeasy, and appears in the title sequence of the HBO’s Southern vampire series True Blood. Look for Shiva standing behind the shack’s notorious signage, which reads: “House rules: 1. There ain’t none, 2. There never was none, 3. There ain’t never gone be none.”

Looking ahead, Mudd plans to drop some new Ishi music in September as a preview for his fourth album, due to be released in early 2023. In the meantime, the new “Sweet Gold” video is a satiating feast for the eyes and ears.

Art + Entertainment
Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less

The inspired menu at Amalfi emphasizes fresh seafood and, on right, Giancarlo Ferrara

THIS WEDNESDAY, AMALFI Ristorante will transport guests to the sun-soaked shores of Southern Italy’s Campania region, home to the glamorous island of Capri, with a six-course dinner. The menu, curated by Executive Chef Giancarlo Ferrara, will be paired with wines from Agricola Bellaria Winery, one of Campania’s most celebrated estates.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

A model on the runway at the Saks show kicking of the Nutcracker Market

A PAIR OF fashion-show events kicked off the annual Nutcracker Market in support of the Houston Ballet.

Keep Reading Show less
Fashion+Home