Local band’s latest video highlights the essence of Stanwood-Camano

A new music video by a homegrown band shines a spotlight on the beloved sights and sounds of the Stanwood-Camano region. The band, City of Pines, is fronted by Nick Clack, alongside Tyler Cutforth, Justin Dobbelaar, and Andrew Sweeting. The band’s genesis can be traced back to Clack’s post-teaching travels in 2016.

Taking a sabbatical from his teaching post in Ukraine, Clack returned to the United States and embarked on a year-long artistic exploration. He ventured through the mountains of South America and the western United States, nurturing his love for music along the way. Clack shared, “I just wrote music and traveled around… I wanted to see what would happen if I committed some time to creativity instead of just working.” Over the years, through performances at intimate venues, his craft matured.

Reflecting on his own journey, Clack emphasized the importance of investing time in one’s passion. He explained, “We all think we have some talents or gifts or something, but we don’t really have time to invest in that… It was just kind of an experiment, and in my opinion, I think the experiment worked.” Upon returning to his roots in Stanwood-Camano, Clack began recording the songs born from his travels.

Around 2020, Cutforth joined Clack, laying the foundation for the establishment of City of Pines. Cutforth and Dobbelaar, both local talents, united with Sweeting, hailing from Federal Way. Their latest release, “I Want to be Free,” is a heartfelt ode to their hometown, encapsulated in a music video that captures the essence of Stanwood-Camano.

Directed by Dobbelaar and filmed by Mark Kutrovski, the video features timeless landmarks such as the Stanwood Cafe, Huntington’s Corner Grocery, Danielson Farms, and familiar local roads. Clack shared insight into the creative process, “Justin was the director, and he came up with the storyboard and the vision. It was just neat to showcase the community.”

Stanwood-Camano, with its allure as a vacation destination, provides a rich backdrop for the band’s visual narrative. Clack articulated, “Stanwood and Camano is a vacation destination for a lot of people, so we have a lot of cool things around here. We thought it was cool to include the surrounding community because we’re all from here, and we thought it’d be cool to celebrate Stanwood and Camano.” For Clack, a homecoming to the landscapes of his childhood evoked a sense of nostalgia and pride.

In essence, City of Pines’ music video stands as a tribute to the fabric of the Stanwood-Camano community, blending melodic currents with the visual tapestry of local life. Through their artistry, City of Pines not only celebrates their roots but also invites viewers to revel in the beauty and charm of Stanwood-Camano.