Last month, Sparta, the El Paso band featuring Jim Ward, announced the October 14 release of a new self-titled album as well as single “Mind Over Matter.” Today, Sparta shares the Jesse DeFlorio directed video for the song. The video marks the first of a three-part interconnected series of videos for each single released ahead of the album release.

DeFlorio spoke on the new video saying, “”Mind Over Matter”, to me, is a song about possibility & pushing oneself as far as you can go. I wanted to explore the never ending discussion of what is good vs. what is evil by showing how extreme circumstances can lead to actions that an individual can justify – even if that action is ugly and unjust to others or the world as a whole. This video is the beginning of a three video exploration into the killing of one’s old self to allow for something new to emerge – and the role in which those around us influence us down those paths.”

“Mind Over Matter” is a rollicking song that distills Ward’s most essential philosophy into something an audience might scream right back at him when he shouts, “Anybody can do anything!” Ward shares, “A spitfire of a riff that screamed hope and possibilities- the music directed the lyrics and I wrote about anybody being able to do anything, hope grown from love- a direct call to myself to write about and sing about the good things in life. The extremely talented Kayleigh Goldsworthy added harmonies and sealed the vibe- one of my favorites from this album.“

Angelica Garcia’s expressive voice also joins Ward’s for the single’s b-side, “Spiders,” a piano-led, gothic epic written as if intended to shakedown heaven. The two songs are available as a 2-track cassette being sold on Sparta’s tour as well as via a Dine Alone bundle with the album pre-order here.  

TOUR DATES:

9/16 Chicago, IL @ Riotfest

9/20 Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot

9/21 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls

9/23 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom

9/24 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

9/25 NYC @ Irving Plaza

9/27 DC @ Soundstage

9/28 Asbury Park, NJ @ House of Independents

9/29 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

10/13 Tuscon, AZ @ Groundworks

10/15 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar