Chris Lane and Lauren Alaina teamed up for a new song of the summer that’s also the ultimate throwback. The two country music artists collaborated on “Dancin’ In The Moonlight,” a ‘70s-inspired single and music video — and they had the perfect chance to perform it for the first time together at CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee.
Catching up with iHeartRadio before taking the Chevy Riverfront Stage on Friday (June 10), Lane shared that he recorded “Dancin’ In The Moonlight” nearly a year ago, but he was waiting for the perfect time to release it: “What better time for a summer song than the start of summer?”
Lane said the new duet was inspired by “an old ‘70s song by King Harvest, ‘Dancing in The Moonlight.’” With the borrowed phrase in mind, “we thought, we could take it back and do a little ‘70s look in the music video because that was a time period when this song first came out. We had so much fun dressing up and just doing something completely different. I've never been able to do anything like that in any of the music videos. And I thought, you know, Lauren's full of personality. And what better way to celebrate that than to dress up four different times throughout this music video?”
Jesse Frasure, Sherman Kelly and Brett Tyler teamed up to write the new song, produced by Joey Moi. It’s inspired by the 1972 King Harvest song “with a country pop twist.”
Lane and Alaina filmed the “groovy” new music video at a speakeasy-style bar in Nashville, Old Glory. It spans different eras, including the 1920s, the 1950s and the 1970s, according to a press release introducing “Dancin’ In The Moonlight.’ Lane described the summery song as one that’s perfect to listen to on a boat, “at a bonfire, grilling, or hanging with the people you love.”
"I am beyond honored to be a part of 'Dancin' In The Moonlight' for so many reasons," Alaina said in a statement. "The original is one of those songs that lives on for many generations. Everyone knows the original. I am excited to be a part of a new take on such an impactful and iconic song. I absolutely love the way it turned out. It’s an added bonus that I get to sing it with my buddy, Chris Lane. He is such an amazing man, artist and friend. The song gets stuck in my head, and I actually want to listen to it myself. That’s a rarity for me. I have high hopes for what this song will do for us, and I am overly grateful to be a part of such a special interpolation to such a hit. Hopefully, we can make it a hit again."
The “Big, Big Plans” singer excitedly spoke about CMA Fest in Nashville, crediting the festival for the opportunity to perform the song with Alaina, rather than missing one another on respective tours. Playing on the Riverfront Stage marked a “full-circle moment” for Lane, who recalled attending the festival as a country music fan before launching his own career. He also set his sights on his next steps, noting that he hopes to have a new record “hopefully at some point this year.”
It was an eventful week for Lane, who, in addition to gearing up for CMA Fest and releasing a new song, announced that he and his wife have Baby No. 2 on the way. Even speaking about his work with the My GM Rewards Card, Lane referenced the needs of his “growing family,” whether he's headed out on tour or at home in Nashville.
“We’re gonna have our hands full, that’s for sure,” Lane said. “We’re so excited. I can’t wait to find out if it’s a boy or a girl. It’s gonna be here before we know it, and we’re gonna have two under two. Talk about having your hands full!”
Their second baby, due in October, will join big brother Dutton Walker, who turned 1 this week. Lane said he and his wife, Lauren Bushnell Lane, threw him a birthday celebration: “We blinked, and it was here,” the country star said of his son’s first birthday. He added that he and his wife “weren't expecting for (the next pregnancy) to happen this fast, but we're excited. It's gonna be awesome.”
Listen to Lane’s new song with Alaina here: