"Natalia Smitana Pavlova is a 31 year old artist from Moscow. Smitana is a member of Russian funk band C.L.O.N.E. (Russian Funk Mob.) Smitana is also part of experimental hip-hop project XSeed.
"Smitana started as one of just a handful of Russian girl rappers. Being a part of C.L.O.N.E. she recorded a few songs with members of Parliament Funkadelic such as Garry Shider and Danny Bedrosian. In 2008 they released the single Regenerator. In the summer of 2013 C.L.O.N.E. had two simultaneous gigs with Danny Bedrosian & Secret Army in Moscow (a solo project of P-Funk’s keyboard player Danny Bedrosian and other members of P-Funk.)
"Soon Smitana & her band hope to release the C.L.O.N.E. debut album, as well as the XSeed debut album, followed by Smitana’s solo album. That’s what they are working on these days. Also they hope to play in Europe and the US and make more music videos and collaborations with different artists. This is her first solo video."
https://www.facebook.com/clonefunk
"The song “Higher” was produced by a vocalist Gene “Poo Poo Man” Anderson, a member of Parliament Funkadelic, the legendary George Clinton’s band.
"He made the instrumental and he produced the recording of the song with Smitana at a studio in Moscow, while he was travelling to Russia with them in 2008.
"Gene Anderson is making his solo blues,funk & soul musical projects as well, and he is famous as a “King of Hollywood Blues”. Gene is 60 and comes from Las Vegas.
https://www.facebook.com/CHAMPOOPOO
About the Director and Video:
Andrey Airapetov is an experienced, professional director and producer of TV for a variety of Russian companies including MUZ TV, MTV, NTV, TNT and others.
He has made music videos for the likes of Scofferlane, Bad Randall, Lost Weekend, Nike Borzov, Da Budz etc.
Andrey is currently working on an online documentary series about Rock called Rock Island.
"We filmed this video about flying people for almost a year. A special technique - Jump Freeze - was invented especially for this film."
All comments in quotes are provided by Andrey Airapetov
http://vimeo.com/airstudia
Musician's Comments on the Director:
"Andrey is a very talented music video director and our old friend. Our first collaborative work was in 2004. Higher is our 4th collaborative video.
"He put the spirit of Moscow and the Moscow musical underground in the Higher video. And he showed very well our aspiration to go higher.He put his soul in this video."
Director's Comments on the Artist:
"Smitana is my favourite Russian musician singer and rapper."
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Scofferlane are Stuart Stumpman (vocals / ideology), Konstantin K. (guitars), Anton C. (bass), Arseny K. (drums / percussion), Arseny Fedorov (Sound) and Evgeniya Sivkova (sax / keys.)
The band come from Moscow and have been called, "One of the most intriguing and eccentric bands currently appearing on the Russian music scene, best known for their live performances.
"Their music combines raw sound with complex melodies, and comes together in a neat blend of diverse rock-and-roll trends, unusual and unique lyrics, with a touch of decadence glamour. The lead singer, alternating between hysteria, morbid sexuality and a slightly arrogant insanity, uses not only his exceptional voice, but his whole physical to express himself.
"Scofferlane formed in the summer of 2008, on the basis of cult underground garage band The BOO. One and a half years later they released their debut album, which caught the attention of French net label Zorch Factory Records. The label presented Snippets on their website. Then came the EP Whatever... Shortly after, the band was invited to perform at the Drop Dead Festival in Vilnius.
"In 2010 Scofferlane parted ways with their cellist and acquired a new drummer, adding a sax to the mix. Scofferlane's third album Veto was released in 2012 and was distributed by the German net label AFmusic, receiving a significant number of positive reviews. Many were impressed by the range of sound on the album, and noted that the band had evolved.
About the Director and Editor:
Andrey Airapetov is an experienced, professional director and producer of TV for a variety of Russian companies including MUZ TV, MTV, NTV, TNT and others.
He has made music videos for the likes of Scofferlane, Bad Randall, Lost Weekend, Nike Borzov, Da Budz etc.
Andrey is currently working on an online documentary series about Rock called Rock Island.
http://vimeo.com/airstudia
About the Video:
"According to legend this group of guys come from Elecrtostal and vocalist Matthew principally operates in the tram depot.
"When Scofferlane approached us to make a video to the song I Awoke, we decided to shoot a video in the style of Anton Corbijn, with the dominance of black and white tones and the effect of grainy images on photo paper. The shooting took place at night, in one of the clubs. Matvey took a long time getting his suit and rubber gloves on. But as soon as everyone was ready, we finally started shooting and filmed it all in a few hours.
"We used a video projector, which projected pre-prepared footage taken from another clip of filming and rehearsals to play onto the group on a stage, which simultaneously served us for lighting. The result was very interesting and quite unexpected: the musicians blended with the background, and people unengaged in shooting. It was unclear what was projection, and where were the real people.
"The audience, who you would normally have in a venue, are absent - but they become present as projected on the screen, creating a feeling that the musicians are playing with their back to the audience. To emphasize the unrestrained expressions of the vocalist, he was set apart from the group and we captured the unemotional expressions on the faces of the other band members to contrast with this, giving them a sense of indifference.
P.S. During the filming of the video, not one animal has suffered. But vocalist Matthew did suffer, having to smoke two packs of cigarettes in just a few hours, added to by large stocks of alcohol."
All quotes by Director and Editor Andrey Airapetov.
Musician's Comments on the Director:
Airapetov is the only Russian music video director whose work can be called art.
Director's Comments on The Artists:
The only group that is Russian, but everything else - physics, organic chemistry, mentality and promise - are truly English.
Lost Weekend is 35 year old Dmitry Groshev from Moscow.
"Lost Weekend is one of the most popular and respected groups on the Russian indie scene. They have a really wide fan base - from lovers of 90s American Rock to the young fans of today's music who are not just about limiting their musical interests to the four chord song.
"The musicians in the band bring a whole range of styles with them, from shoe-gaze and post-punk to noise and post-rock. The group does not lose its signature sound.
"This song has a definite shoe-gaze feel with the theme of easy love."
The band say this is their best ever video!
About the Director and Editor:
Andrey Airapetov is an experienced, professional director and producer of TV for a variety of Russian companies including MUZ TV, MTV, NTV, TNT and others.
He has made music videos for the likes of Scofferlane, Bad Randall, Lost Weekend, Nike Borzov, Da Budz etc.
Andrey is currently working on an online documentary series about Rock called Rock Island.
http://vimeo.com/airstudia
About the Video:
"The idea of the script came to me when I went into my house one day. I came face to face with a dummy who stood nearby, disassembled by the elevator. I wanted to take him home.
"On the same day Dmitry Groshev called and asked if I would shoot a video for his band. When he sent the song, amazingly it fitted the dummy, which stood on the balcony. The idea was to show the life of modern people, as living mannequins. And about superficial relationships.
The video was shot in Gorky Park and the streets of Moscow, starring famous Moscow musicians and models."
All quotes are from Director and Editor Andrey Airapetov of AirstudiA, Moscow.
This amazing animated video, with both a futuristic and retro style, does the splendid job of both telling a story and leaving us baffled at the same time.
About the Artist:
"C2C consists of members: 20SYL, ATOM, PFEL, GREEM. They met in high school and thanks to their turn table skills they won the DMC World Competition four times in a row (2003-2006). Their album Tetra went Platinum in France."
About the Directors:
“CRCR is a French collective whose members met at Gobelins, the most famous animation school in Paris. Their first animated short ‘JESUS 2000’, made during their internship at WIZZdesign, won the web competition HAFFtube at the Holland Animation Film Festival. Their second film, "Todor & Petru," a mixture of live action and animation, garnered international attention and was picked up for broadcast. This film cemented CRCR as mix-media innovators with modern, graphic and quirky style.
“Since then, CRCR has made music videos and commercials with increasing energy and artistic vision, directing films of various styles for clients such as Adidas, Nike, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Cartoon Network, Lowdi and Deezer. Along the way, they picked an ardent fanbase as well as a nomination for the Young Director Award at Cannes Lions, among others.”
About the Video:
“From the start of the project there was only one constraint: the triangle. With that small beginning, CRCR chose to create a universe around this form. For CRCR this went far beyond a simple exercise in graphic styling around a shape, CRCR integrated the triangle into something much more cinematic and narrative, and created a universe where the triangle becomes a primary character.
“The story unfolds in a sci-fi universe in the French 70s style where a nation of helpless men are coping with the arrival of a mysterious and ominous triangle ship. CRCR put the viewer in the role of the protagonist in the story as well, allowing the audience to imagine what this form represents.
“It took at least 12 weeks to make this video, counting the writing and design phases. C2C was immediately hooked to the project and the graphic universe so the production went very smoothly. For CRCR, making a music video like this is an opportunity for creativity and taking risks artistically, and like every project, CRCR give the film it's own strong and unique identity, with the complete trust of the band to develop the film.”
"The Correspondents are Ian Bruce (Mr Bruce) and Tim Cole (Chucks) from London. The duo have toured restlessley for the last 6 years, but are in the process of readying their first album for release in early 2014."
About the Song:
"This alternative pop anthem bubbles with the energy that The Correspondents have become renowned for in their live shows.
"Chucks' production is another upbeat genre blender of driving basslines over dynamic drum sequences that sinks midway into a glitchy electro breakdown before resurfacing.
"Mr Bruce's vocals deliberate the dangers of entering a relationship that has the potential to be both exciting and destructive. The chorus is a call to overcome doubts and plunge head first."
About the Director and Video:
"I have worked very hard over the last few years to develop a filmmaking style that is all my own and have thusly developed an unhealthy obsession with performing every aspect of the production and post-production myself!
"The single is accompanied by a perplexing video that explores the limits of a new technique in film making, pioneered by myself as an emerging director. I describe the process as using a 'composite camera' (multiple cameras acting as one), to depict the same action from different viewpoints.
"The combined footage describes a space in which synchronised multiples exist in a rotationally symmetric, kaleidoscopic dimension.
"My previous films have picked up multiple awards but Fear and Delight has been my most ambitious project to date."
All information in quotes provided by the director Naren Wilks.
Artists' comment on the Director: A bit of genius!
Director's comment on the Artists:
They've been a major source of inspiration to me over the last few years. The song Fear and Delight is really enjoyable and the lyrics vividly explore an issue that I can very much relate to.
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"HB no.2 heard VOIA’s music from a previous music video and approached VOIA with the idea of making a completely instrumental song for a Karate Kid influenced video game music video. The rest is history. The song was made, the video was made, the song was readjusted for the video, the video for the song, and the back and forth the collaboration went."
Story of the Director and Video:
"HB no.2 originally comes from Lakeville, Connecticut, USA, in the state’s north east corner.He believes in a balance of Conviction and Humility.
"Before even finding a song, HB no.2 had the idea of making a music video that was specifically about video game competition. Early ideas revolved around fighting games, but eventually dance games seemed the obvious choice due to their physical nature.
"The style takes from 80s films like the Karate Kid and Purple Rain, and from being shot on Fuji 35mm to using vintage lenses, we did everything we could to make that happen."
All quotes from the Director HB no.2
Artist's Comments About The Director:
Director was an absolute magician, created his own universe and narrative running parallel alongside the music's own adventure. Emotionally uplifting and inspiring, the hero built around the anthem leaves an iconic legacy behind.
Director's Comments About the Song and Artist:
It’s always very difficult to make anything with a narrative that you personally don’t have a stake in. Meaning if there isn't a question or pain you the director are dealing with in the film, one must look to other means of inspiration. It’s only a testament to VOIA’s music that HB no.2 was able to find the inspiration to follow through on such a story.
Franko Fraize has been producing tracks for several years now with his distinctive hip-hop style, picking up BBC Radio play along the way.
He says he is, "A man from a small town in England making music about his small town in England. After gaining the public's attention through outlets such as XFM, Radio1 and 1xtra I hope to continue my assault on the main-stream with Treasures.
"Bringing Kamilla Lovett along for the ride, in this song we both exchange thoughts and feelings of long-term love told in a conversational format. Both speak honestly and candidly bringing a romantically honest approach to explaining their feelings.
"The song was produced by the Last Skeptik and Jay Malhotra."
About The Video and Director:
Tom J Cronin was new to music video making when he first met Franko, but has turned out some quality work over the last few years, really capturing the essence of what the Thetford rapper is all about.
Each video has shown another aspect of life in a provincial town, something many can relate to in the UK. What is different is that whilst most people yearn to escape, Franko revels in belonging to a community surrounded by friends and family. Far from feeling restricted, Franko is inspired by his surroundings, wanting to get his music and emotions out and heard by a wider public.
He said, "I've worked with Tom since my first video (Hand Me downs) and will never work with another director. We have put out 3 official videos before this one. All received a massive response. We pitched to the TV and they both got on there.Tom and myself have a strong working relationship.
"We put a party on last minute and had such support that it ended up costing 26 quid to make (mainly due to the food bill.).Family and friends turned out and we filmed a legitimate party. We felt this gave the realistic English party vibe."
BONUS VIDEOS:
If you haven't had the chance to hear Franko's music before, or see Tom's videos - here's a little retrospective of the last few years !
Orla is an unsigned artist from Dublin, Ireland who has become well known for her YouTube posts. Now writing original music, she told us, "Roots is a song about leaving home. Lyrically it's, "Roots" that's resonating with me more than any other song right now.
"I love Dublin. I've lived there my entire life;I love the place, the people, the culture. Every time I go abroad I'm reminded of home in some subtle way, and I love that. For the last three months or so I've been back and forth between Dublin and the UK; I've boarded countless flights, coaches and trains (the plodding beat that runs through Roots was something that first sprung to mind when walking along - when I listen the beat still reminds me of walking along, constantly moving. there's buckets of references to travelling in there - "let's get a ticket for those tracks.") Thanks to some of the kindest friends in the world I've braved floors, sofas and kitchen floors in the quest for a good night's sleep.
"However, all summer long I've felt London calling me and it's finally the time to begin thinking about moving over.
"I over-think everything - it's a real curse. I've thought so hard about moving and the new doors it could open but more importantly about everything I could be leaving at home! For me, home isn't just a set place, a felling or a group of people that grow up in each other's company. 'Home' embodies so much more than that - your behaviour, your emotions, your opinions and your values - these are the elements of our personality that are shaped by the world we grow up in, the elements I associate with home."
About The Video And Director:
Yousef Thami is from Manchester. He told us, "The original concept of having an animation/live-action music video came from Orla herself. She already had an idea of what she wanted the video to look like, so we worked on and developed that idea to turn it into what it is today. Orla's idea of being swallowed by a giant whale was a strange concept initially but it proved to be fun and light-hearted.
"Orla was helpful enough to fly over from Dublin for the shoot. We began our first day of production in Manchester to film Orla in a studio against a green screen for the animation scenes.
"The second day saw us shooting on Formby beach, an hour away from Manchester for the outdoor beach shots. The music video was shot by Duncan Howsley, who was incredibly easy to work with, creative and helpful.
"The animation was created by Prosper Unger-Hamilton, an animation graduate who is based in Manchester. The treatment for the video required animation, so naturally, as Orla was someone I very much liked to work with, I took it upon myself to shop around the internet for some worthy animators. I came across Prosper's work and thought it looked incredible, so contacted him - and surely enough he replied and created some mock animations to send alongside our treatment."
So - you've watched the video, you've read all the words - and now you want more right? Well, this is a first for us, because thanks to Yousef, Orla, Prosper and Duncan, you can head straight back into their live-animated world as they have now released Part 2 of the video for you! Orla tours the UK and Ireland in 2014
We are big fans of the King Deluxe label and we knew this one was coming out around the time of our Festival launch - and what a video it is!
The track is delicate and understated, yet packed with so many elements. The video more than compliments this, with bursts of animated shapes that somehow bring every note and pore of the music (does music have pores?) to life.
Check out our feature on King Deluxe in one of our VIDEO PROFILES on this site.
Public Service Broadcasting are J. Willgoose, Esq. and Wrigglesworth, signed to Test Card Recordings. They have carved a name for themselves in the music world mixing the old and the new.
They take samples from old public information films, archive footage and propaganda material, attempting to 'teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future'.
Their debut album, Inform-Educate-Entertain was released earlier in the year, which includes this track.
'Night Mail' takes as its subject matter from the eponymous film of 1936, a pioneering documentary film produced by the General Post Office and the Royal Mail Group. Sampling the original words of the documentary - including the Night Mail poem by W H Auden.
About The Director:
Rob Hackett is an award-winning short film and promo Director. His films have screened in over 60 International film festivals, including Short shorts and Asia Film Festival (Japan), Sao Paulo, Rhode Island, Rushes Soho Shorts and Film Fest Hamburg. His awards include Best Short Film at both the Staen Island and Central Florida Film Festivals.
About The Video:
"The brief was fairly open, the only elements that needed to feature were the band themselves and the original ‘Night Mail’ footage. To me it made sense to bring these together in a disused train station. The sound of W.H Auden’s voice over PSB’s music struck me as haunting. Therefore, when it came to the look of the promo, it felt right to echo the cinematic era of the poem (film noir) with a contemporary aesthetic."
Information in quotes provided by the Director Rob Hackett, unless otherwise stated
Artists' Comments on the Video and Director:
"“Rob completely nailed it with a fantastic location which was better than we could have dreamed of - fitting in the historic nature of the source material and the atmosphere of the track. The shoot itself was a breeze and the final promo arrived on time and without disruption!"
Director's Comments on the Song and Artists:
"I love the ethos of what PSB are about ‘Inform – Educate – Entertain’ and to have the opportunity to direct a promo containing the original Night Mail footage was a gift."
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Bernadette Huber, Maren Knieling and Mathias Schuckert.
A track to get drawn into - with a video that you equally can't stop watching.
About The Song
"'Simulation' is a 11 minute track, which was released as a limited vinyl single on the German electronic label "Permanent Vacation". As for the music-video, we did a down-cut version of 7:34 minutes. Due to the pregnancy of Róisín Murphy, we had to create a simulation without her.
"The song is a hypnotising and electrifying tune. The record label described it by saying, 'This is the realm of my wildest dreams' - Irish queen Róisín Murphy returns to disco with her new track Simulation: A star-dusted slow pumping house cut, with a vintage disco glimmer, that develops an enormously captivating effect with a constantly swelling beat and vocal performance.'"
About The Artist
Róisín Murphy is an Irish singer-songwriter. She first came to note as one half of the electronic music duo Moloko.
About The Directors & Producers
Bernadette Huber is working as a director and editor. Maren Knieling is currently working as producer at Bavaria Films. On various projects they team up to do music-videos. This time Mathias Schuckert, beloved friend, joined. Mathias does graphics and animations,
The Story Of The Video
"We shot this no-budget video, financed by ourselves, over a period of 4 days in Berlin and Munich. It took about 4 months to finish the production of the video. Due to the fact that RM was pregnant at that time, we had to create a story without the artist herself.
"As you can see, we play with the song lyrics: 'This is a simulation, this is for demonstration...this is the rhythm of my wildest dreams'. So we created a 'rhythm' of singers' 'wildest dreams'...flashing sequences...following our main theme of a 'simulation'. Every scene has its own illusion or simulation. Even the repeating blonde lady is a simulation of the artist."
Information in quotes provided by Bernadette Huber & Maren Knieling
Artist's Comments On The Video/Director
Róisín Murphy's comment on Facebook:
"Some nice people in Germany took it upon themselves to make me a video. I was heavily pregnant at the time so I couldn't take part in it..it turned out quite nicely..take a look."
Director's Comments on the Artist/Song
"This is a simulation, this is for demonstration."
Last year label and video makers King Deluxe sent us an amazing film by Henning Lederer for Vaetxh's track Mass. This time around they have sent in a whole raft of stunning new videos. Time, we thought, for a showcase and biog of their work.
The ability to consistantly turn out top class music videos shows not just a finger on a musical pulse, but a passion for the art of film making and what it can do to showcase an artist and give a platfrom to Directors at the same time.
King Deluxe are tucked away in a remote part of British Columbia, but somehow have found some of the coolest artists making music today and discovered film makers willing to go more than the extra mile to produce music videos of stunning quality and inventiveness.
Of course here in the UK, what I really wanted to hear was that they lived in the frozen wilds, in a sparse log cabin, spending every available daylight hour editing, then carrying on long into the night doing more editing by a crackling fire.
The thing is, that's not true. The truth is an even better image. Deluxe founder PK (Peter Krahn) explains, " My most recent headquarters is next to a beautiful lake and mountains and an old coastal forest and a desk nailed together from driftwood. I do have a photo of the hut type thing I cobbled together once, to live in for five days, at the Shambhala festival." (see below)
The funny thing is though - this hut does play a part in the label's development - and so does that Shambhala Festival.
PK explains, "King Deluxe grew out of Peppermill Records, my old netlabel. That one had some electronic moments, but featured more folk music and gypsy jazz and such. And although towards the end Peppermill became known for these fun but tiny campfire music festivals high up at various alpine lakes (that we all had to hike up to), the scene for Creative Commons based art became difficult to sustain so after I attended the Shambhala music festival, and discovered how full sound could be I went home and bought a subwoofer. Since then I have been pretty much obsessed with the sorts of productions one finds on this label."
Those sounds vary, but have a heavy electronic element. The label uses the freedom it has as an independent to scour the globe for something special and different. Its success in finding accomplished musicians who are pushing boundaries must take hours of listening, but for us the result is something beautiful and fresh every time.
Here's just such an example. A video just released in the last few weeks from Director Gero Doll. The artist is 19 year old Siberian musician Ivan Erofeev (aka Aleph), currently living in St Petersbugh. A classically trained violinist now composing electronica, whose Fourth Way EP is out now on the label.
Aleph Fourth way (Official) from Gero Doll on Vimeo.
So how does PK find an artist like that?
"I'm getting some really fantastic demos sent to me as of late. However most of what we release is stuff I found. Often thanks to long digging sessions on soundcloud. Now, though, we have a solid roster of artists, so I want to continue putting out their projects, along with remixer friends of theirs."
The next question is obvious. How do you find the video makers, like Gero Doll, to produce such fantastic films to go with completely unknown artists?
"For this I turn to vimeo in large part," said PK. "It's my favourite place to discover animators and filmmakers and often I just send the musician a large variety of styles I'm currently into, and see what sticks. To get a great piece of animation though on an indie record label budget takes time and serendipity.
"I love it when you can't tell what came first, the music or the visuals. Alphabets Heaven's "Birthday" was a great example. (see below.) Director Renata Gasiorowska took cues from the song and built the story around those, it feels very natural." Alphabets Heaven is Brighton based Jonny Wildey and the track come s from his Siamese Burn EP, also released through King Deluxe.
Alphabets Heaven - Birthday from diplodok493 on Vimeo.
"Then we have Koji Aramaki's new one Super Tropic Tramp," said PK of a video soon to come out on the label, "that takes a more abstract approach with musician Julien Mier's track, but it moves beautifully with the beat and feels to me now like a literal representation of how I picture it inside my head. Most of the direction though is left for them to interpret as they wish.
"Not all videos need necessarily to be so synced with the sound. I think as long as the colours and patterns and movement bring out aspects of the song you may not have focused on otherwise, or vice-versa, then the collaboration can be a success. A great video or soundtrack will education you about what is going on, consciously or subconsciously, inside of a piece of art.
Fancy Mike - Miami Vice from alexandre louvenaz on Vimeo.
(N.B. Please be aware this video contains flashing lights)
"I set out to create a label of mostly music and visuals, and other artforms, and thankfully we've been fortunate to get animators on board that I wasn't completely sure at first would be possible on such tiny budgets.
"As proud of I am of the past year's videos, the ones we have in the works now, or are about to begin, I think are more ambitious overall. Mostly still animation but not exclusively."
There's no doubting the passion PK and his team have for new music and music videos. Let's hope as King Deluxe develops they can keep finding those original musicians and film makers to pair up for us to enjoy!
A strange set up this, of three sisters in an attic - but one which perfectly fits the cold beauty of the song.
About The Artist & Song
Sigur Rós are an Icelandic post-rock band from Reykjavik, who have been active since 1994. They're known for their ethereal sound, frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals, and the use of bowed guitar. The band's music is also noticeable for its incorporation of classical and minimalist aesthetic elements. They have recently released their 7th studio album Kveikur. Ekki Mukk is the second track on Sigur Rós' album Vailtari. It premiered on the official website on March 26 2012.
About The Director
The director is an amateur young guy of the age of 26 who hasn't had any academic film schooling. He has had practical experience though, and loads of true passion. He's been filming music videos since the age of 9.
The Story Of The Video
"The director participated in the Valtari Mystery Film Experiment organised by Sigur Rós. they has to choose one of the songs from Sigur Rós' album Valtari, and create a music video. The director chose Ekki Mukk as it is a very beautiful and enchanting composition. The music video is about a singing sister trio who are preparing their next performance when suddenly they are disturbed by a mysterious sorrowful melody. They are charmed by the music yet unaware of the lasting effect it will have on them...
"The underlying idea is about the understanding of the need to let go of a close relationship to be able to grow as a person. However, this is told via weird happenings and vague metaphors.
"The director and his team listened to the music, its mood and the feelings it gives. The story had to be one with the music. The director tried to incorporate his love for 30s close harmony trio style into Sigur Rós' music which seemed impossible at first, however, to the director's mind, it added a weirdly good dimension to the whole work. The location is the attic of the director's countryside home. It was very suited for the intended mood of the video."
Director's Comments on the Artist/ Song
"The song is a beautiful work of art. I really love how the old crackles in the song contrast with Jonsi's angelic vocal. The music flows softly, and is even meditative. It gives me a cosy, by-the-fire feeling. Sigur Rós is one of my favourite bands, I love their creativeness and approach to music. They are very talented people who are very humble at the same time."
Dizraeli and the small Gods (ft Jam Baxter) - Sailor
Director - Danny Ezra Gonzalez
Bizarre yet simple. Intimate yet isolated. This music video is more that what initially meets the eye set to the unique mixture of folk and hip-hop that is Dizraeli and the Small Gods.
About The Artist:
“Dizraeli’s previous works include 'Engurland – City Shanties'; 'White Man (Moves)'; 'The Rebel Cell'. He is a two times UK Slam Poetry winner (BBC and Farrago).
"Currently exploring the link between hiphop and old folk music. Hoping to grow and spread good open-minded, dirty music far and wide.”
About The Song:
“'Sailor' is a shanty and a hiphop banger, featuring phenomenal UK rapper Jam Baxter (High Focus Records) and speaking of the artist on the pedestal, and the dirty human truth behind the high illusion. We're alone and small like everyone else.”
About The Director:
“Danny Ezra Gonzalez is currently living and working in Mexico as a freelance director.”
About The Video:
“The premise of the video is to explore the idea of ‘isolation in intimacy’ that is inherent in the song through a conceptual collage of images that are linked through a consistent aesthetic. We create a both intimate but nonetheless isolated space through a pool of light in an otherwise black void. We cover the majority of the performance individually, push right in for big macro-focussed close-ups, all illuminated from a single source so that the light catches the highlights before falling away into nothing. We grade to high-contrast black and white to create a dark but elegant tone.”
Infromation in quotes provided by director Danny Gonzalez
Artist’s Comments On The Director/Video:
“This video was made on a miniscule budget and Danny did an incredible job of capturing the feel and intention of the song, bringing a sensuality and grit to it that we love. It's both slick and unsettling. I'd happily work with Danny on future projects”
Director’s Comments On The Song/Artist:
“I have worked with MC Dizraeli on a few occasions and am personally a big fan of both his music and spoken word. ‘Dizraeli and the Small Gods’ for me presents some of his most original, adventurous and ambitious work and Sailor in particular was a once in a blue moon opportunity for a film maker.”
This is the debut music video for artist Clix, directed by Alex Frois, and boy does this make an excellent first impression!
About The Artist:
“This is a debut for Clixx. Ayo is an up and coming rapper and music Producer.”
About The Song:
“The song is produced by NXG Records – an enterprise that provides music technology skills to juveniles of disadvantaged backgrounds who are serving prison sentences. They provide them with a creative outlet, an opportunity to be released on the label and the skills to acquire work in the future.”
About The Director:
“Filmmaker at Large is a small company set up by Alex and Adam, they have specialised in low budget productions since 2009 and have made two feature films for under £3000.”
About The Video:
“Filmmaker at Large's first music video, Shut It Down was produced for Clixx's debut single and produced for the NXG Group. Our intention was to design a video that exemplified the guerilla, underground talents of all the artists involved, in-front and behind the camera. Clixx's ability to fit a wide range of styles alongside his modest roots were all captured through a variety of scenarios and locations, centered predominantly in East London.
"The video was created on a low budget of £3000, used mainly for equipment rental, greenscreen studio hire and outfit purchases. Production comprised of a 3 day shoot, and because of budget restrictions, a paced out post production process of roughly 3 months.
"The images were captured with a Canon 5D MkII supported by a 7D and all of the VFX were created on a single Quad Core PC. The software packages utilized were Avid, Cinema 4D, After Effects and Boujou for motion tracking. The video was graded primarily with Magic Bullet.”
Information in quotes provided by Director Alex Frois
Artist’s Comments About The Director/Video:
“Big up to Filmmaker at Large for creating a great video under impossible circumstances!”
Director’s Comments On The Song/Artist:
“Clixx is a wonderfully talented upcoming artist and it a pleasure to work on his debut single and fitting as it was our debut music video.”
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Amazing video with the beginning of the universe from a kitchen table. Oh yes, it all started with a small child and a gingham tablecoth didn't you know?
About The Song:
Marter expalianed, "This song was mainly inspired by the European techno scene. It mixes live drums and industrial sounds to create an hypnotic ghost track that grows in a spiral. It is a meditative form of electronica."
About The Artist:
"Marter, aka Masateru Yamauchi, is a 33-year-old classical pianist and electronic musician who was born in Japan and raised in the US. He lives between London, Berlin and the quiet countryside of Kyoto, where he composes his tunes. He is signed with the label Jazzy Sport.
"Marter has played in clubs and festivals all around Europe (among many others the Sonar in Barcelona and the Master Peace in Yorkshire). Black Hole is the ghost track of his fourth album after Tsuki no deshio (2001), Preferable Reality (2005), Weltraumasthetik (2009) and Finding and searching (2012). His fifth album will be released in 2014."
About The Director:
"Maria Pia Fanigliulo recently completed her MFA at CalArts in LA in Film Directing. She previously studied Philosophy in Florence and Aesthetics in Paris. She lives in London, where she is a flm&promo director and a script reader and researcher for Universal International. In 2013 she directed four music videos, all made and shot in London, which got multiple screenings in the UK and abroad, plus thousands of views online (Gizmodo, Sopitas, Vimeo's staff picks and others)."
About The Video:
"Since we wanted to make a music video which was more cinematic rather than commercial, we decided to pick the ghost track of the album. The title of the song and its rhythm gave me the idea to create a story about adventures in space. Knowing the style of the musician, I wanted to make something which was both technologic and warm.
"The painter Tarik Berber painted a 10-metre-long canvas which was the background of the universe. We slowly unrolled it with the help of an engine and shot it in one single 5-minute-long shot, which became our screenplay for the birth and death of the universe. Yet when we filmed the kids, they started to play spontaneously and the footage looked so playful and natural I decided to re-think the whole animation according to their moves and games. So the final script ultimately came from these two unaware little writers. Please also note that nothing in the animation is computer generated or 3D: all the objects of the room have been photographed or filmed. Digital artist Jeffrey Shroyer then composed hundreds of pics and videos, playing with different sizes to create the illusion of perspective."
Information in quotes provided by Director Maria Pia Fanigliulo unless otherwise stated.
Artist's Comments on the Director:
"I am very proud of what the director did with my tune. I think the video is truly awesome as it mixes a lot of retro inspirations (reminiscent of the golden age of animated music videos of the MTV Liquid Way) with brand new experimental techniques. The visuals came out of the tune so organically it seems like the soundtrack came after the images. The level of detail of the video is extraordinary, making it more like an audiovisual experience than a basic promo. Just the animation took several months to make: I think it is extremely rare to find a low budget music video with so much precise original work behind."
Director's Comments on the Artist:
"Marter is a sensitive musician who has a deep connection both with technology and nature. While listening to the track, I could already picture all the details and the orbiting objects of his universe. I had no doubt when the black hole was kicking in, when things where collapsing or starting over. The song has given us precise directions on how to make the universe unfold. I think the collaboration turned out really successful, especially since we (the musician, the animator, the painter and I) explored an inner pace which is not very common in the fast-paced video clips of our era."
"Grayson Gilmour is a 28 year old musician from Palmerston North, NZ, currently living in Wellington, NZ and signed to Flying Nun Records.
"He is a classically trained pianist who released his first solo recording at the age of 16. After spending some time playing lobby piano at Japanese hotels, Grayson moved to Wellington and became a founding member of electro indie-rockers So So Modern.
"While touring the world with them, he has continued to release solo material that is less abrasive and veers more towards pop classicism with its multi-tracked harmonies and swirling arrangements.
"In 2012 he became the first new artist signed to the newly relaunched Flying Nun Records. In-between Solo and So So Modern releases GG managed to extend his musical reach into film scores, winning Best Composer at the 2013 SORTA New Zealand Film Awards."
About The Director:
"Jesse Taylor Smith is a 25 year old from Hamilton, NZ, currently living in Melbourne, AUS.
"Best known for his music videos, Jesse Taylor Smith has worked as a director and editor on both sides of the Tasman. Notable clips include the work he has done for Grayson Gilmour, Ladyhawke/Junica and Pond. His clips often evoke a low-fi feel, while displaying his love for the imagination and surreal.
"His work is often characterised by an attention to detail in styling and colour. It is possible he might be getting a reputation for blowing his budgets on elaborate production design and vintage formats/cameras. Uh-Oh.
"Jesse currently holds a position at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image."
About The Video:
"After listening to the first incarnation of 'Minus Times Infinity' I remember being instantly overcome by visions of dragons and monsters. Even the song title ‘-x∞’ seemed like it should be etched on a tombstone somewhere. It was my 4th clip for GG and I thought it might be a good time to dismember him. Murdering the hero is such an underplayed but effective idea. During conception I did not realise executing the idea was going to prove extremely challenging and time consuming.
"Firstly, 1 giant animatronic dragon needed to be constructed. Borris (as we lovingly named him) was born out of hinges and ropes, tubing, wood, foam, bathroom sealer, fabric, wire and mesh. His eyes and brains were made from a deconstructed remote control car and were operated off camera. His neck, jaws, tongue and legs were controlled by pulleys and operated by two puppeteers inside the body. During production Borris suffered terribly. He was shoved in and out of a van. His jaws briefly caught fire. He was sent down a river and finally he was cut completely in half.
"5625 frames were painstakingly hand colourised in Post Production. I have always been fascinated by frame-by-frame colourisation in early 20th century films. The work done by George Melies and the Lumiere Brothers is beyond beautiful. However I have always regarded the technique as too difficult for a music video. But after talking with Grayson and after a lot of convincing by Jenna Eriksen (the videos cinematographer), hand colourisation started to all make sense. The style and narrative of the video suited the frame-by-frame technique perfectly.
"4 months of colour and coffee later and the video was completely hand painted. We then reassembled frame by frame and with that some boyish-dragon-fantasy of mine was fulfilled.
"I hope this didn’t drag-on. Ha!"
(Comprehensive, Jesse, just comprehensive - Ed)
Information in quotes provided by Director Jesse Taylor Smith
Director's Comments On The Artist:
"First of all, I am a huge fan of Grayson Gilmour. I find his music incredibly cinematic and his DIY ethic really resonates with me.
"Grayson is an amazing client to work with because his views on video collaboration allow me to flourish as a filmmaker. We share (what he often describes as) a ‘silent collaboration’ where I am delivered a song with no direction from him or inclination of the songs meaning. I then reimagine the song visually and deliver a concept (or in some cases a final product) with no creative involvement from GG. His contribution is solely sonic and mine is solely visual."
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