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Releasing their first love song since \u201cWondering Why\u201d during Valentine\u2019s week. The Red Clay Strays<\/a><\/strong> have done it again, capturing the gravity of what love can mean with their brand new single \u201cIf I Didn\u2019t Know You.\u201d The Mobile, Alabama, band consisting of Drew Nix (electric guitar, vocals, harmonica), Zach Rishel (electric guitar), Andrew Bishop (bass), John Hall (drums), Sevans Henderson (keys), and frontman Brandon Coleman, are kicking off 2026 strong, carrying some of the breakout momentum into the new year. With a new record set to release at some point this summer<\/a><\/strong>, fans are eagerly awaiting new music, and the Red Clay Strays are wasting no time in delivering that.<\/p>\n With a blend of country, soul, blues and rock, they are one of the genre\u2019s brightest modern day acts\u2026 even though they insist they aren\u2019t even making country music. But at the end of the day, that doesn\u2019t really matter what genre they categorize themselves in because the music they are making is addictive. And their latest single follows that same pattern, delivering a powerful message with a hypnotizing composition.<\/p>\n Ahead of the single release, the Red Clay Strays teased that something was in the works<\/a> <\/strong>with famed comedian Matt Rife. While some might think that this was an unlikely pairing, Rife has previously described the Red Clay Strays as \u201cmusic for the soul,\u201d so there\u2019s no doubt that he\u2019s a fan of their work. Apparently, that\u2019s so well-known that the band called him up to get him involved. After teasing a project, it was quickly announced that he would star<\/a><\/strong> in the music video for \u201cIf I Didn\u2019t Know You.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHard to believe this\u2019ll be our first love song released since \u2018Wondering Why.\u2019 Our next single drops Thursday, February 12th, with a kick*ss music video starring our buddy Matt Rife. Gonna be a good Valentine\u2019s this year.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n In the music video, Matt Rife plays a man who appears to have met the love of his life on the bus, played by fitness influencer Mariah Morse. Ironically, Rife and Morse had been a couple for the past year, but TMZ reported<\/a> that they called it quits just days before the music video was released. OOF\u2026 rough timing.<\/p>\n But back to the music video\u2026<\/p>\n After hitting it off with the stunning woman, their time together is cut short when her bus stop arrives before his. After saying they hope to see each other soon, Rife goes home and regrets that he might have just let his perfect match walk away without getting any contact information for how to reach her again. Rife\u2019s character longs to cross paths with her again, reminiscing about their short but sweet time together while hoping for more. Morse\u2019s character feels the same throughout, and the viewer begins to wonder whether these were star-crossed lovers or whether they would find their way back to each other.<\/p>\n Eventually, the two find their way back to each other and begin building a life together based on their undeniable connection and chemistry.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I didn\u2019t know you<\/em> The music video brings the lyrics to life, showing how deep love can be, but it also reminds us that achieving that deep, unbreakable love isn\u2019t always easy. Like Rife\u2019s and Morse\u2019s characters, their love story did not have a perfect start, but they believed this connection was extraordinary, so they fought to find each other and make it work. It\u2019s been four years since we got a love song from the Red Clay Strays, but \u201cIf I Didn\u2019t Know You\u201d was well worth the wait.<\/p>\n Turn it all the way up.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n
I wouldn\u2019t know how to love<\/em>
I wouldn\u2019t know what it feels like<\/em>
To be someone\u2019s only one<\/em>
And if I\u2019d never seen your eyes<\/em>
It\u2019s like I\u2019d never seen the sun\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n