#stonewoman

By reference to Charlotte Day Wilson`s STONE WOMAN

Analysis by TaylorJoeBerger

Super8 film and VHS aesthetics are currently going through a big revival in music videos. Whilst some examples lack purpose or ambition, this Video seems fitting for both song and sentiment.

The intimacy in “Stone Woman” is clearly reflected in the accompanying video and it`s production, where according to the director Devon Little, only a team of 5 people was on Set.

Whilst Charlotte Day Wilson sings of this stone woman with weathered eyes and heavy sighs, we see imagery which couldn`t be warmer and more welcoming to us. Here lies the illusion and charm of it all. As we of 2018 live in a time of High Definition, whatever we perceive as an analog signal, like Super8 film perhaps, there immediately is a nostalgia which creeps up in us as viewers. Although the VHS and Super8 aesthetic today is also mostly created through filters, which again is a digital signal, referencing what once was. Even within this technical observation there is nostalgia. A time that passed, which we can`t regain, won`t relive, only romanticize and try to recreate through what we call filters.

It comes to no surprise that the director Devon Little references David Bowie`s “Heroes” (1977), Sinead O`Connor`s “Nothing Compares 2U” (1990), and Andy Warhol`s “Screen Tests” (1964 - 1966), as source of inspiration for the Stone Woman video. Especially the opening of both videos by Bowie and Wilson, which share a strong Back-Light and their silhouette in center.

There`s an undeniable quality in the simplicity of all the videos named above, but they also share a grittiness and grain which will, and does, have an affect on us viewers in 2018. Considering that young audiences now grow up with and in High Definition, never experiencing tape as a standard system, seeing grains and filters like these, mean a different thing to them, as they do for us. Where People can put their own memories alongside these visuals, future generations must perceive them as something quite alien. A document, a time capsule, an aesthetic choice but with no personal relevance to them. Something their parents of grandparents had, “abstract”. Even more fascinating how willingly the VHS aesthetic is currently being used for so many music - videos, instagram stories, etc. Although the artists using this grained image might have grown up with it, part of their audience hasn`t.

When comparing the “Stone Woman” video with the inspirational examples, one might say they are very similar technically. As one of the biggest giveaways for the 2018 version of grain, or the digital interpretation of Super8 film lies in the format. We took the now very calculated glitches and picture errors from Super8, but kept our new standard digital resolution and aspect ratio, which is 16:09.

Who is then this stone woman? Is she untouchable for the exact same reasons as we`ve established above? Elusive like the memory held by our grained films, home movies? A figure from the past? Some who we`ve all thought about since; where are you now? What are you up to these days? Or even more absolute, what if you were still here with me?

Towards the end, Charlotte Day Wilson (I like spelling out her name) seems to break out of this stone facade she was in before. Her face lightens up, glances to the side, spontaneous. In direct contrast with what we`ve seen before. Was she singing about herself all along? Having difficulty to grasp oneself? “But if I could catch you I`d be grown” she sings. The longing for catching this figure, understanding this woman, might as well be a search of a self which she is, was, or wants to be?

The silky tone of Wilson`s voice seems to go hand in hand with the grainy imagery of the music - video. A rich voice supported by rich colour, all entangled in an honest simplicity.

Whichever perspective we inhabit, the stone woman is heavy, mysterious and elusive. Charlotte Day Wilson, so far, has proven that she is very particular in her music and in her imagery. She seems to be very aware of what image she is building outwardly. We should all be excited for what`s to come.