No mountain—or hill—is too big for Big Sky Company to climb.
The Ann Arbor-Detroit collective explores that notion on its new folk single, “Walk Up This Hill.”
Featuring singer-songwriters and musicians Mike Ward, Dave Boutette, Neil Donato, Annie Bacon, Kristi Davis, and Jim Latini, the hopeful song serves as a rallying call to unite people and build community in divisive times.
“There are plenty of songs out there that people are writing and singing that are calls to action, but then, the action to me is not always what I’m looking for,” said Dave Boutette, who co-wrote “Walk Up This Hill” with Mike Ward.
“Mike’s songs have a unifying air about them; they have a unifying core, and frankly, that’s why he’s part of this project is because he brings people together, and his songs do that, too.”
Eighteen months ago, Boutette recruited Ward to pen the single after Geoff Michael, the owner-engineer of Big Sky Recording Company, suggested writing a social-commentary song.
“In our local music community, he felt like something was missing,” Boutette said.
“Given the tone of our times, there wasn’t enough social commentary and protest stuff out on the airwaves to the level that he would like. He tapped me to make it happen, and I said, ‘Well, I know the guy who’s going to write the song—Mike Ward.’”
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