Videos of the Week
Norwegian collective FIEH have released an accompanying visual to their compelling single ’25’, a track that melds lounge, jazz and pop with an effortless air of sophistication. The light vocal tones combine with tingling piano keys and a rich melange of instruments, provided by this eight-strong outfit. There is a sense of journey despite the metronome-style beat and continued vocal hook of “25 hours a day, I am on it baby” as the track travels on before breaking into a completely psychedelic guitar outro. The video is as equally enchanting as the sonar, an unnerving piece that follows the band inducting their latest member into the world of FIEH. It has an Anderson-esque look and a plot that is disturbing; yet soft lighting, decadent settings and a healthy dose of velvet makes the viewer believe all is wonderful and warm. [via the 405]
The opening line of the new Foie Gras song ‘Psychic Sobriety’ cuts right to the core of it from the moment the light turns green: “I’m a bad lay, but I want you to choke me until you love me.” Yet, while the lyrics bite deep, what really grabs the listener about the new cut is the driving, pulsing dark synth work that would fit perfectly between Yazoo’s 1982 classic 'Don’t Go’ and Depeche Mode’s 'Master and Servant’ in a ripping DJ mix. 'Psychic Sobriety’ is culled from the self-described solo dronescapist’s forthcoming Holy Hell EP due April 5 via Yellow Year Records. The track comes paired with a lighthearted music video, directed by Angel Ceballos, which depicts the artist as a vampire pageant winner on a date that ends in tragedy and triumph again and again. A clip that must be seen to be believed, it is totally fun and provides an excellent accompaniment to the crackin’ goth-pop gem. [via Revolver]
Sydney based singer-songwriter and producer LUPA J might as well add director and actress to the list of simple nouns used to describe her with the release of the stunning video counterpart to her newest single ‘The Crash’. The video leads watchers through the artists’ “ultimate escapist fantasy” as Lupa J’s character evolves from a dazed state to take control of her surroundings, before eventually ending in turbulent self destruction (spoiler alert!). These themes of self exploration, awareness, destruction and rebirth are rumoured to be central to the artists’ upcoming debut album Swallow Me Whole. Visually, the video for ‘The Crash’ pairs soft light of dawn with the harsh illumination of flaming torches, gothic vibes, patchwork quilts and interpretive dance to showcase the internal conflict of Lupa J’s mind as it struggles to make sense of itself. Directed and filmed by the artist herself alongside fellow creative Adam Scarf, the video is a surreal journey through a fantasy dream-scape, featuring scenes from along the stunning New South Wales’ coastline as the artist travels further from her dissociative state. [via Purple Sneakers]
Ahead of her SEXORCISM album, Brooke Candy is back with a “visual homage” to her roots in bondage. This week, she releases her new single and video, 'Happy,’ an exploration of her own mental health through dark, intense visuals. On the meaning behind the song, she said, “'Happy’ is about attempting to convince yourself you’re okay when you know that you’re not. It’s about gritting your teeth and pushing through life with a smile on your face, even though all you want to do is curl up in a fetal position, cry, and quit.” Over steady, rumbling bass, Candy reminds herself in the lyrics, “bitch, you are happy,” though the rest of the lyrics paint the opposite picture. In both the song and visuals, she eventually succumbs to tears, with glitching sob-singing vocals appearing toward the end, but maintains the same mantra: push through no matter how hard it may be. Fashion photographer Rankin is the mastermind behind the dark visuals, which can be more aptly described as a conceptual art piece than a music video. [via NYLON]
Lion Babe and Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon hustle in a saloon and take on outlaws in the new video for 'Western World.’ The song appears on Lion Babe’s sophomore LP, Cosmic World, out now. The album is the follow-up to the duo’s 2016 debut, Begin. In the clip that recalls old Westerns, Lion Babe’s Jillian Hervey and Lucas Goodman appear on some dusty train tracks while the rhythms from their interpolation of Pet Shop Boys’ classic 'West End Girls’ comes in. As Hervey strolls the town, nuns look upon her in judgment. Later, they perform at a saloon, where seemingly illicit exchanges of money and other untoward arrangements take place. The setting mirrors the lyric’s themes of loneliness and listlessness while going through life in a “western world” where “you’re on your own” and “it’s hard to find some peace.” As Lion Babe entertains the saloon’s audience, Raekwon participates in a card game and injects positivity into the mix. “You know how I pop,” he raps. “It’s just a radiant glow I got that make me keep radio on lock/All about love, we premiere/Baby, we here/It’s like this: let me lighten your bliss.” Raekwon and Hervey are also seen toasting away their seedy surroundings. While the Western’s protagonists are making the best of their circumstances, a group of outlaws looks to challenge Lion Babe. However, as the song’s grooves command, they dance their way out of the jam. [via Rolling Stone]
With her debut album WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? unleashed on Friday, pop sensation Billie Eilish is here with the music video to 'bad guy’ off of the project. This one features a lot of weirdo imagery: heads in those take-home goldfish bags, bloody noses, and Eilish creeping around in a way that’s both goofy and genuinely unsettling. [via Stereogum]
Spanish star Rosalía breathed new life into flamenco music on her widely acclaimed 2018 album, El Mal Querer. This week, she’s returned with her first new song since that LP, 'Con Altura’. A collaboration with J Balvin and frequent producer El Guincho, the track pays tribute to classic reggaeton. The 25-year-old Rosalía explained in a press statement: “'Con Altura’ is an homage to the more classic and original reggaeton: reggaeton playero. When I was younger I loved listening to reggaeton and it could have been natural for me to make a song like this before, but I don’t like to force anything. As a musician I let myself be guided by my intuition in every moment. I am very proud of this song and believe in it so much, because there is inspiration in a genre like reggaeton, but in a subjective and personal level, from a place of power and strength.” Accompanying the single is a flashy video helmed by Director X. It shows Rosalía throwing a vivid, boisterous party filled with cool outfits and even cooler dance moves. [via Consequence of Sound]
Last week, Jenny Lewis released her long-awaited new album On The Line. And shortly before its release, she pulled off a cool stunt — an online listening party/fundraiser, modeled after the variety shows and telethons of the ’70s, that raised a bunch of money for the the Los Angeles Downtown Women’s Center. Tim Heidecker put the show together, and it featured a whole lot of Lewis’ famous friends and well-wishers. And now Lewis’ new video for the album’s first single 'Red Bull & Hennessy’ goes behind the scenes at that fundraiser and features a whole lot of the same people. Director Eric Notarnicola’s grainy, vintage-looking clip features quick appearances from an impressive cast, including Beck, St. Vincent, Mac DeMarco, a nattily attired Jeff Goldblum, Vanessa Bayer, Jason Schwartzman, Danielle Haim, Nikki Lane, Tim Heidecker, and former WCW World Heavyweight Champion David Arquette. It compresses the aesthetic, and a whole lot of the highlights, of that variety show into a quick four-minute sugar-rush dose. [via Stereogum]
Berlin-based, American born musician Erin K releases new single 'Frame to Freeze’ taken from forthcoming album I NEED SOUND due for release in June. The video; directed by Peter & derWolf in Laborgras dance studio Berlin is centred around dance, as part of a series of releases Erin has created for the album. The mirrors create adynamic visual display, employing some fun tricks to transform the simple single space.
Kosovo-Albanian pop singer Ilira is determined to use her voice, through her songs as a way to empower and inspire women with powerful messages to love themselves. Her new single 'Do It Yourself’ is where she throws the doors wide open on a discussion about self-love. Ilira has taken it upon herself to jump into the hot seat with a big megaphone, singing her heart out with a passion for the feminist generation. An effervescent melody, popping with bubblegum beats steers us through the verse sections on 'Do It Yourself’ and is swapped out in favour of euphorically uplifting chords when hitting the climactic chorus. In its style, the song follows a well-used formula. The chorus is where it peaks at it’s most catchy and memorable. Ilira’s voice blossoms in accordance with the songs incredibly, vivid lyrics. This does all that is asked of a hands-in-the-air, fully-fledged pop anthem, packed with unapologetic attitude. A rallying cry with an energising and upbeat message with solidarity within the sisterhood in mind. [via EQ Music]
Danish experimental pop star KILL J is back with ‘Addicted’, the fourth offering from her forthcoming new album Superposition. The compelling visuals perfectly depict KILL J as the queen of indulgence and unrestraint wearing Trash Couture and Ann Wiberg couture dresses. Conformity has never been KILL J’s trademark and she has never played by the rule book. Armed with her latest release, she only looks set to further her position as one of Scandinavia’s most exciting exports: a reputation that will be cemented with her upcoming new album, due on June 7. [via New Lease]
You hear a lot of “girl power anthems” these days but few feel as organic as self-declared “anti-pop” artist tiLLie’s 'Loud Mouth.’ Off her EP of the same name, 'Loud Mouth’ brings refreshing anger, pain and urgency to girl power’s sometimes tedious positivity. In the kitschy, cinematic short film, we see tiLLie go as crazy as she’s been made to feel. A disembodied narrator (the kind who might introduce the main characters an indie film) explains: “tiLLie, age 14: is suspended for dressing inappropriately. tiLLie, age 17: plays guitar too much and is diagnosed with ADHD. tiLLie, age 25, gets called crazy for the one millionth time and is institutionalized.” As she snarls and pouts, tiLLie struggles against a straight jacket in the backseat of a convertible headed down a desert highway. Eventually, she escapes and and goes rogue freaking out all over a motel room, and later, the Desert X installation. The stunning scenes were directed by tiLLie and close friend Shantie Midnight, with help from Superflex Studio and Sterling Ruby. The video’s narrative arc builds upon its own manic chaos, leading up to her liberating manifesto. As playful as the whole thing is, it’s clear tiLLie’s desperation and anger are anything but a joke. “The song itself is a declaration of my authentic self, despite all the times i was told to be quiet, that I’m "crazy,” bossy etc. It speaks to redefining the lens through which we see empowered and emboldened women" tiLLie explains. “The music video for 'Loud Mouth’ is a short film I created with my best friend Shantie Midnight, documenting a post-psych ward vacation. We see glimpses of a friend’s hands, arms but never the face and it’s up to the viewer to decide whether or not that person is actually there.” [via Paper]
