Heavy Diamond Ring, the beloved Denver-based Americana outfit led by vocalist/trumpeter Sarah Anderson and guitarist/songwriter Paul DeHaven, is set to unveil the music video for their newest single, “Don’t Go It Alone,” this Friday, June 27. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jasmine McGlade—executive producer of the Oscar-winning film La La Land, which earned 14 Academy Award® nominations and won six Oscars®—the video is a striking visual companion to one of the standout tracks from the band’s third LP, Wildflower Lane, released in spring.
Anderson first crossed paths with McGlade backstage at a performance with Nathaniel Rateliff and the Colorado Symphony. “She and I hit it off and became very close very quickly.” The creative chemistry between the two women was evident, and McGlade, whose award-winning work includes directing music videos for GRAMMY-nominated artists such as Gregory Alan Isakov, Max, and Jobi Riccio, soon came aboard to bring HDR’s new single to life. Filmed at the band’s long-standing community hub, a 14-acre Evergreen, Colorado property affectionately known as the ‘Dude Ranch,’ the video embraces a warm, ‘70s-inspired aesthetic.
“We’re super excited about the video,” Anderson said. “Jasmine brought such a beautiful vision to life—and watching it all come together was honestly surreal. The vibe is eclectic, colorful with an 70’s feel, and visually appealing. It’s also where we recorded our record. Paul lived there for 14 years and my brother, who produced the album, lives there now.”
Wildflower Lane, produced by Mark Anderson at Cowboy Cowabunga Studio, showcases the tight-knit collaboration between band members Anderson, DeHaven, Blake Stepan (bass), Mike Lang (keys), and Orion Tate Ignelzi (drums). Recorded mostly live over five days, the album embodies a spirit of immediacy and raw intimacy. “We had to work quickly, but it also led us to not overthink our decisions,” said DeHaven. “We trusted the spirit in the room and moved forward.”
The name Heavy Diamond Ring was born from a lyric DeHaven wrote during a difficult tour: “My heart is like a heavy diamond ring.” He explained, “It’s about the relationship to something you love that isn’t always easy, but is always worth it. For Sarah and me, this thing that we love is music. Doing it together has never been a question.”
Lyrically, the album is steeped in themes of commitment, mutual support, and reflection. “The overall theme of these songs is enduring love as an anchor in the depths,” said Anderson. Songs like “Happy Days” and “To Know You” delve into emotional connection and vulnerability, while “Like Lightning,” penned by the singer for her young daughter Cleo, offers a tender meditation on motherhood and the fleeting nature of time. “It’s a reflection on how becoming a mother has changed my relationship to time, love, life, and death,” she said. The buoyant track “Don’t Go It Alone” stands out as a heartfelt call for community and togetherness—sentiments that echo even more deeply given the band’s long-standing chemistry and shared history.
The recording process was uniquely constrained by distance. With DeHaven having relocated to New Mexico, the band adapted by exchanging demos digitally before coming together in the studio. “We worked with our limitations. There wasn’t time to second-guess. That made the recordings feel immediate, alive—very much in the moment.”
To preserve the organic feel, the band opted for a minimalistic recording setup. “We didn’t record entirely to tape as we had planned, but we kept the tape ethos intact by limiting our channels, minimizing overdubs, and keeping it very close to the live, in-the-room moments we captured,” said DeHaven. The band tracked in a modest 10×20-foot room, where mic bleed rendered post-production nearly impossible—a constraint that ultimately added to the record’s cohesive warmth.
DeHaven, the primary songwriter, often sends a large batch of demos to Anderson, who selects the ones that speak to her vocally and emotionally. “The ones that write themselves are the best,” he noted. “This clarity is definitely a hallmark of an HDR song.”
Singles leading up to Wildflower Lane’s release included “Like Lightning” (July 2024), “Don’t Go At It Alone” (March 7, 2025), “Happy Days” (April 18), and “Where You Gonna Run To” (May 30). The full album dropped June 13 on Gitcha Records and is available on all major streaming platforms, with vinyl and CD editions available via the band’s website.
Heavy Diamond Ring is currently on a Midwest tour in support of their new release, with upcoming dates including Big River Theater in Alma, Wisconsin on July 16, Pilllar Forum in Minneapolis on July 17, and Three Three Five in Green Bay on July 18, with more shows scheduled through the end of October.
The tour offers fans a chance to experience the band’s signature blend of sonic intimacy and emotional resonance in a live setting. CS Indy described HDR’s sound as “contemporary indie-folk that goes down easy,” while 303 Magazine praised it “as classic as rolling down the windows in the summer,” adding that the new album is “dark and serene at moments, joyous and soulful at others, and blessed with the incomparably harmonious vocals that come with an all-male band supporting their female frontwoman.”
With a new video helmed by a filmmaker of cinematic prestige, a strong, fresh album out, and a tour that brings their deeply collaborative spirit to the stage, Heavy Diamond Ring continues to strike a rare balance between grit and grace. As Anderson summed up, “Even when things are chaotic or uncertain, there’s beauty in that weight.”
Watch the new video for “Don’t Go It Alone” on HDR’s YouTube Channel here; it premieres this Friday, June 27.
Stream Wildflower Lane here.
