Behind the Video
Behind the Video: Blake Smeltz Sets His Place in Country Music with “You Ain’t Whiskey”
Blake Smeltz discusses his “You Ain’t Whiskey” video, revealing how whiskey offers fleeting solace that can’t replace the love you once knew.

Blake Smeltz, a rising talent in country music, is making waves with the release of his latest music video, “You Ain’t Whiskey.” The single highlights Smeltz’s signature blend of emotional storytelling and rugged authenticity, drawing comparisons to early Luke Combs and Gavin Adcock. With its heartfelt narrative and powerful delivery, “You Ain’t Whiskey” further cements Smeltz as an artist to watch in the ever-evolving country music landscape.
The song explores the raw emotions of heartbreak, inspired by Smeltz’s personal experiences with love and loss. Its lyrics dive deep into the complexities of coping, comparing the fleeting solace of whiskey to the irreplaceable love of a lost partner. As Smeltz shares, “This song reflects a journey through love and loss that many can relate to. I wanted to create something that resonates with people and captures the raw emotions that come with heartbreak.” His genuine connection to these emotions shines through in both the song and its accompanying visuals, creating a poignant experience for listeners and viewers alike.
A Virginia native with a deep appreciation for nature and life’s quiet moments, Blake Smeltz has always infused his music with heartfelt sincerity. Influenced by legends like Luke Combs and Zach Bryan, Smeltz combines a raspy, soulful voice with introspective songwriting to craft songs that resonate deeply. With the release of “You Ain’t Whiskey” and an EP planned for 2025, Smeltz is carving a path as one of country music’s most promising voices, blending bold artistry with a love for life’s adventures.
Who directed the video?
Blake Smeltz: “William Gawley was the director for the video, and Michelle Gawley of Charlotte Media Entertainment was in charge of the production.”
What’s the concept behind the video? Help us to understand the video’s concept in more detail and how it ties into the lyrics.
“The video takes place after a breakup, where the guy is at a bar thinking about the love he just lost. The video shows the story of him drinking in a bar and then roaming the streets of the city to feel less alone. The lyrics narrate the video in a way that lets the viewer follow along with insight into how he is feeling. It not only shows how he is acting, but what’s going on inside his head at that moment as well.”
Did you have a concept in mind based on the song or was the director given full reign to come up with a suitable visual companion?
“We shared ideas of how we wanted the video to pan out. William Gawley had many ideas and relayed them to me. We then agreed on how we wanted the video to play out.”
What was your favourite part behind the creation of the video?
“My favourite part was meeting all my friends at the end of the video. Everyone’s reaction was genuine, as they did not know they were being filmed. It was a great feeling seeing them proud and excited for me. Having them involved with something that means a lot to me was a great experience and I am thankful for it.”
If you could get one guest to be in one of your videos, who would it be? Why?
“Chris Pratt would be pretty cool. He is a very ‘down-to-earth’ person who is a very established and credible actor.”
What makes a music video “bad” or “good?” What makes it “great?”
“I think what makes a music video ‘great’ is the quality of work, followed by the message involved. I feel it is most important to portray the story in a way that is credible and easy for the viewer to follow. A bad music video would not let the viewer follow the story as easily and they could get distracted from the message.”
Was there anything during the making of this (or any other) music video that happened unexpectedly, or you were surprised to learn?
“I was surprised to learn how unbothered everyone was in the street that we were filming a video. Everybody went about their day, which I was surprised a lot of people did.”
What should a music video set out to accomplish? Do you feel like yours did that?
“I think a music video should connect the listener to the artist on a more personal level. The listener should be able to relate to the song but should be able to understand what the song means to the artist as well. I feel our music video accomplished that.”
What’s your favourite thing about music videos?
“I think my favourite thing was getting together with like-minded individuals to create something much bigger than themselves. It was such a great experience getting to meet new people and develop these skills.”
Which genre do you think makes the best music videos?
“I personally love a country music video because I feel the lyrics are often more meaningful than any other genre. They often tell a story, whereas many other genres are just performance videos. Country music videos are often very relatable to a lot of people.”
Any mishaps on set?
“There were a couple of times where I would say the wrong word or look in the wrong direction, but other than that, there were no big mistakes made.”
If money was no issue what would be in your perfect video?
“The perfect video would be somewhere on a boat or in the Midwest, where there are large fields with mountains in the background. I think the landscape is beautiful and can make a video that much better.”
Do you prefer writing a video around the theme of a song or just going to a warehouse and banging out a live performance?
“I think it really depends on the song. It’s easier to film a live performance, but I think writing a video around the theme of a song can help you get into a really creative mindset and create something awesome.”
How does the music inform the video in terms of visuals matching sound?
“I feel the music just describes what is happening in the video. It is almost like the song is narrating the video in a way. It narrates it the way a good story would in order to get a message across.”
High-quality lyric video, live video, cinematic music video… What’s your preferred format and why?
“A cinematic video will always be a preferred format because you can go in so many different directions with it. It gives you a great amount of freedom to portray your message however which way you feel.”
-
Country/Americana2 days ago
The Sheepdogs: “We learned a lot because people weren’t willing to give us a chance because we didn’t sound like band A, B, or C, ”
-
Alternative/Rock1 week ago
Papa Roach: “It was indicative of the era musically but I think that the music and the lyrics they can transcend that.”
-
Alternative/Rock3 days ago
Origami Angel Bring Their Boundary-Pushing Emo to Manchester Gorilla [Photos]
-
Alternative/Rock2 days ago
James Bay Gives Fans a Magical Night at Manchester’s O2 Apollo [Photos]
-
Metal5 days ago
The Hara (w/ Eville) Bring Chaos to Brighton’s Green Door Store [Photos]
-
Metal1 week ago
Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine Celebrate Classic Albums at Manchester Co-Op Live [Photos]
-
Album Review2 weeks ago
Russ Taff – ‘Cover Story’ [Album Review]
-
Music2 weeks ago
The Weeknd Announce Massive Stadium Tour Supporting ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’