Interview with Don Busick

Don Busick is a band member of Acoustic Underground. He is also the host of Small Venue Music, a video podcast dedicated to local musicians and music venues in Richmond, Virginia, that provides a platform for these bands to showcase their talents. In his podcast, Don talks to musicians, venue owners, and fans to get a better understanding of what makes these local scenes so special.

We chatted with Don to learn more about the band’s latest music video.

CultureWorks: Can you share the inspiration behind "Lonely Astronaut"? How did the concept for the video come to life?

Don: The original idea for the lyrics to “Lonely Astronaut” came from a universal feeling we all experience at some point—the sense of being isolated or separated from people you love combined with a deep desire to reconnect. The astronaut theme was just a unique way to try to share that emotion.  We hoped it would connect with people regardless of the type of relationship involved. When we thought about making the video, we really wanted to find a way to capture that emotion, but add our deep love for our community, all the amazing musicians and music venues in town, and the feeling we all have for each other in the band. We attempted to blend all those things together in the Lonely Astronaut’s journey home.

CultureWorks: Richmond’s music scene is so dynamic—how did you incorporate its collaborative spirit into the project?  

Don: We’ve really been inspired by how other musicians have embraced us as a band and as individual musicians throughout the years. All of us have collaborated with other local artists in a variety of ways, whether it be in participating in local festivals like the Avery Walls Music Festival, contributing tracks to other artists’ songs, or even occasional guest performances on stage. There is a real sense of community among musicians in Richmond and we wanted that “feeling” to come through in the video. We felt really good about how it turned out and hope we made the Richmond music community proud.

CultureWorks: What iconic Richmond locations are featured in the video, and why were they chosen?

Don: There are so many amazing and iconic locations in Richmond that it was hard to choose. We wanted to pick locations that spoke to people who actually live and deeply know Richmond versus something targeted toward tourists. We intentionally chose a mixture of picturesque locations like Brown's Island with locations that would resonate with people who actually live and work in the city. Some of my favorite scenes were the simple ones where the Lonely Astronaut walks through the streets of Carytown, the Fan, and Church Hill.

cultureworks: Can you tell us more about the local musicians and artists involved in the project? How did they contribute to the story?

Don: We are good friends with a lot of local musicians and venue owners in town and have always tried to support them by going to their shows and they do the same for us. Once we developed the concept, we asked everyone we knew if they’d be interested in participating. We were pleasantly surprised by how quickly folks said yes. We had about 20 musicians and music venue owners in the video, and our biggest regret was that we couldn’t squeeze even more artists into the story.  In addition to the musicians, we also had a great time casting several of our loyal fans. We also were excited to include some folks who serve our local community like local firemen in Church Hill’s Firehouse 1.

Cultureworks: How does this project reflect your personal connection to Richmond and its music scene?

Don: Everyone in our band either grew up in Richmond or has lived in the community for several decades. So for all of us, Richmond is our “home town”. We were eager to find a way to bring to life what we experience in being musicians and members of the Richmond community. We wanted to show the camaraderie that exists and how it feels being a part of the slightly big, “small town”.   

Cultureworks: What advice would you give to other local artists who are looking to create collaborative, community-driven projects?

Don: I’d suggest that you search for opportunities where your project elevates everyone who is involved, not just a handful of people or you personally. I’ve found most artists really get excited when they can help other people and know that their efforts are reciprocated in some way. Reciprocation can come in many forms, be it free publicity, helping others with their projects, or even just emotional encouragement to keep creating art. Search for project opportunities where everyone involved can feel a sense of pride when it’s done. We hope we hit the mark with Lonely Astronaut because that’s certainly the spirit behind what we were trying to do.

Check out the full music video below:

About Acoustic Underground

Acoustic Underground is a Richmond-based music group dedicated to crafting unique musical experiences that reflect the spirit and culture of their community. With a passion for storytelling and collaboration, the group merges cinematic artistry with the power of live music, bringing engaging narratives to life.

About 'Lonely Astronaut'

'Lonely Astronaut' is an ambitious music video and song that takes viewers on a cinematic journey through Richmond, Virginia. The video follows an astronaut who, with the help of local musicians, finds his way back to his band. Set against the backdrop of Richmond’s iconic locations, the project highlights the city’s amazing musicians, vibrant music scene, and celebrates its creative spirit.

The video is more than just a musical piece; it's a love letter to Richmond’s artistic community, showcasing collaborations with talented local musicians and landmarks that define the city.