SONGS OF THE STORM
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, two Western North Carolina musicians process their grief through song.
Synopsis
Songs of the Storm is a meditative documentary exploring how artists process devastation and grief through their work. The film follows two Western North Carolina creators in the wake of Hurricane Helene: Sarah Elizabeth Burkey, an Appalachian ballad singer who draws her healing inspiration from the natural world, and Doug Carr, a visual artist and musician transforming trauma into powerful electronic sound. Told in two chapters, each shaped by the rhythm of a song, their stories culminate in performances that reflect resilience, loss, and renewal. Though different in practice, both are bound by the same storm and a shared landscape.
THE CREW
Directed + Produced by: Aaron Stone and Caroline Aylward
Director of Photography: Colby Sexton
Sound and Score: Bridger Dunnagan
Production Company: Parkway Studios in collaboration with West Ashe Creative