Halfway to Heaven: Eric Underwood Blends Country Music, Loss, and the Sonoran Desert Beauty.
The strum of a guitar echoes against the sweeping landscape of Gates Pass as Eric Underwood and his band take their first steps into the country genre. With Halfway to Heaven, a sure-to-be hit, not only will the lyrics resonate with anyone who has experienced loss, but the music video is guaranteed to captivate with its stunning showcase of the Sonoran Desert.
Known for crafting original rock tracks, Eric Underwood and his band—Robert Munoz (bass) and Jeff Browning (drums)—are venturing into new territory with this country-rock single. The music video is filmed in iconic Tucson locations such as Gates Pass, Owl Head Buttes, and there's even a San Pedro Chapel cameo. It's like a love letter to the desert landscape that Underwood has called home since relocating from New York City in 2016.
Co-written by Underwood and Munoz and recorded by Browning at DRMX Studios, which he owns and operates, Halfway to Heaven is based on a true story of one of Underwood's friends. “Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one may find this hits close to home. Like a true country music lyric, it’s a song that contemplates mortality. There is a struggling family dynamic throughout the song," shared Underwood, proving that this song offers a deeply personal listening experience for everyone.
The music video’s production was as organic as its scenery. Originally it was going to be driving sequences with a guitar solo but as Munoz started filming, it became something much more dynamic, showing the desert’s raw beauty and the song's emotional depth. The band found an unexpected prop while scouting at Owl Head Buttes: a burned-out pickup truck, complete with police tape fluttering in the wind. “It was the prop we needed!” exclaimed Underwood. Combined with rugged desert shots and a mesmerizing guitar solo filmed at Gates Pass, the video adds a visual narrative as impactful as the song itself.
This bold and heartfelt debut into country for Eric Underwood and his band will be available to stream, enjoy, and revel in starting Friday, December 20th, on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and YouTube Music. Follow Eric Underwood on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.
Song and Video Details:
Halfway to Heaven by Eric Underwood
Starting 12.20.2024 Stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music.
Music Video streaming on YouTube
Halfway to Heaven music video filmed and directed by Robert Munoz and Eric Underwood | Edited by Michael Munoz at BattleBornDesigns.us
Halfway to Heaven was recorded by Jeff Browning at DRMX Studios in Tucson, AZ | Produced by Don DiLego, Eric Underwood, Robert Munoz, and Jeff Browning | Mixed by Don DiLego | Mastered by Fred Kevorkian
Album cover art by She Hit Pause | Graphic Design by BattleBornDesigns.us | Press photo by Phil Kelly