Austin, Texas-based band Johnny Chops and the Razors are premiering the music video for their song “Believer” exclusively for readers of The Boot. Press play above to watch.

For frontman Johnny “Chops” Richardson, “Believer” is part of a new chapter for his solo sound -- Richardson has been playing bass in Texas’ beloved Randy Rogers Band since 2002 and is a frequent songwriter -- and an homage to the world’s finest bluesmen.

“I love Delta blues: Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Skip James,” Richardson tells The Boot. “So it's my attempt at paying tribute to those haunting, supernatural, crossroads-at-midnight-type of songs that really mesmerized me."

The video for “Believer” is also Richardson’s first foray into putting his ideas for songs into music video format. Filmed in Bertram and Hunter, Texas, just outside of Austin, the video’s setting provides both an historical backdrop and a little bit of insight into Richardson’s past.

“It’s the home of the first establishment to serve legal liquor in Texas after prohibition, Riley’s Tavern,” he says of Hunter. “I actually had one of my first paying gigs there when I was starting out, and they still host some great honky-tonk, blues and even rock acts every weekend. I spent many many Friday and Saturday nights learning how to play in a band there and hadn’t visited in many years.”

Over the past three years, Richardson has found sonic inspiration and a new direction via practicing his slide technique on a Gretsch resonator. Ultimately, that practice resulted in the beginnings of “Believer.”

“The riff came out, and I started humming the first line,” he recalls. “It was the first song I wrote for the record and really worked as a signpost to where I wanted to go sonically and stylistically.”

“Believer” is the first in a new batch of songs that will serve as the follow-up project to Richardson's 2013 solo debut album Sticks & Stones. Richardson is currently in the “final stretch” of completing the record, and is crowdfunding to finish production via PledgeMusic.

"Believer" is available for purchase and streaming on iTunes and Spotify. Visit JohnnyChopsMusic.com to keep up with the band and their upcoming tour dates.

More From