Last night, Lucy Dacus premiered her new music video for Planting Tomatoes at the beautiful Village East by Angelika theater. Dacus is an indie rock singer-songwriter who’s grown a devoted audience through her seemingly effortless storytelling. Planting Tomatoes originally debuted on limited-edition vinyl in April 2026, was later released on all streaming platforms, and the music video officially premiered today, July 8th. The event was a full artistic experience, including her new music video, a Q&A with Dacus, followed by a screening of Harold and Maude (1971). Rain-covered streets across NYC set the tone perfectly for the emotional journey the room was about to be taken on.
The video was filmed in Dacus’ hometown of Richmond, Virginia, paying homage to her southern roots, with appearances by many of her own family and friends. A childlike whimsy carried throughout with colorful fast motion edits of children dancing, swerving pedicab rides, and smiles at family get-togethers. Dacus brings an ethereal energy to the almost chaotic imagery, grounding the viewer with her lyricism of joy and hope in everyday life. I often find myself listening most to Dacus’ songs about heartbreak or the emotional yearning for a partner, but this video emphasized how dynamic her work is. She still brings a melancholic note, setting a majority of the video in a cemetery, but this is overpowered by youthfulness, hometown nostalgia, and optimism. The video left me smiling, thinking about my own hometown and the memories I’ve made at the local soccer field, ice cream shops, and in my mom’s home. The room applauded as the video concluded, and Dacus brought her chair towards the front of the theater for the Q&A portion of the night, accompanied by Holden Seidlitz.
Dacus elaborated with Seidlitz more on the creation and vision for Planting Tomatoes, sharing that her father played the role of a pedicab driver (something he does in real life as well) and the kids were cast from SPARC, a local performing arts program for children in Richmond. This brought more meaning to the faces and places we’d just seen previously on the big screen. Seidlitz next asked Dacus about the importance of directing her own videos; she shared that it enables her to have complete control over her name and the work associated with it. She noted that fans didn’t have to be there tonight, but chose to show up to support her work. In my opinion, this ownership provokes a connection between her and her fans, who continue to support her work because it’s wholeheartedly her own. Similarly to the video, the Q&A had moments of lightheartedness, with one fan asking for advice on seemingly every aspect of her life: friendship, love, and career growth, to which both Dacus and Seidlitz laughed. Even with all her wisdom, Dacus was at a loss for words, a cute moment between the artist and audience that made everyone giggle. The Q&A portion helped the audience understand little joyous tidbits of Dacus’ upbringing, and how these moments shape the inspirations behind her art.
Lastly, the audience was shown a free screening of the film Harold and Maude (1971), which explores themes of love, existence, and living life to the fullest. It was a perfect way to cap off the night, emphasizing the themes just seen in her music video. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of life; for me, it’s recently moving to a new apartment or always having more photos to edit, but this night reminded me that these little things are something I one day won’t have. If this one track/video evoked all of this reflection, I can only imagine how people feel after seeing Dacus’ Forever is a Feeling tour. If you want to experience this journey, you can see Dacus in Kingston, NY on July 22; North Adams, MA on July 23; and Asbury Park, NJ on July 25.
Words and photography by Alycia Gimmler
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