BADBADNOTGOOD – Lavender ft. Kaytranada
Now, we’re not saying that Dungeons and Dragons was the reason Will Byers ended up in The Upsidedown in Stranger Things, but the video for BADBADNOTGOOD‘s collab with Kaytranada isn’t exactly helping the case. Lavender is the second video to come off the back of this year’s album IV and centres around a D&D campaign gone horribly wrong. Seemingly all hope is lost after a shady as hell Dungeon Master shackles the band to their chairs and even a holographic Kaytranada can’t rescue them when they’re forced into a game of Russian Roulette.
Thankfully, when the pizza (food of Gods and basement nerds alike) arrives, they have time to poison his drink, leading him to a gruesome and bloody death. Honestly, all the kidnapping and death could have been avoided if they’d just gone with John Dempsey -a far more legit-seeming Dungeon Master 4 Hire whose infomercial runs at the end of the clip- instead of some dude whose ad was stapled to an electrical pole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AJOqx6_UKQ
Emeli Sandé – Garden
The video for Scottish singer Emeli Sandé utterly dreamy track Garden is, as expected following the track’s October release, exquisite and ethereal. Set on the grounds of a resplendent estate in the country-side, the clip has Sandé, along with an entourage that includes featured artists Áine Zion and Jay Electronica surrounded by greenery and shrouded in mist and smoke as Sandé distinct, hypnotic, haunting vocal refrain echoes throughout. Speaking about the song, which she says is her favourite on the album, Sandé said it was “an expression of freedom and passion, two important parts of life, which I hadn’t really explored until a few years ago.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqlf9FAKPRc&feature=youtu.be
All Our Exes Live In Texas – Tell Me (Live)
Heartache personified is a song called Tell Me by Sydney’s All Our Exes Live In Texas. So poignant is the song –a one-sided conversation between two former lovers– that the folk quartet didn’t need to make use of an overly conceptual music video. Instead, the live clip consists of a stage, beautiful soft lighting and places all the focus on the raw emotions of rejection and longing brought to life through the swaying group harmonies and poignant instrumentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xTyQu6iz68
Alicia Keys, Blended Family (What You Do For Love) ft. A$AP Rocky
Following the release of her latest album Here, Alicia Keys has returned to her heartfelt sound with second single, the beautiful Blended Family. With a laid-back guitar driven beat, Keys’ tone glides beautifully over the track, only to be contrasted by a similarly sincere verse from A$AP Rocky. The video too continues this genuine feel, exhibiting people and families as they laugh and interact, not to mention the chemistry that Alicia Keys and Rocky show in the video; feel good is an understatement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbGm5f5PR2o
A Tribe Called Quest, We The People…
After releasing their final album just two weeks ago following the passing of the legendary Phife Dawg, A Tribe Called Quest have now continued their incredible takeover with visuals for We The People… It couldn’t have come at a more better time; with America split in two ahead of the recent presidential election, Tribe’s empowering track has been given an equally powerful clip. Fronted by the group’s surviving members, along with collaborator Busta Rhymes, the pioneers broadcast their conscious message to a sea of supporters. Of course there is a touching tribute to Phife, which showcases through the video, proving while they may be one man down, Tribe’s spirit will continue to break down barriers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO2Su3erRIA
Spring King, City
The sequel to their incredible last clip Detroit, Manchester’s own Spring King are back with an equally hilarious video for City. The clip follows characters Roderick and Penelope in an 80s inspired European dating show, as they stumble through a number of hilarious dating scenarios and situations, from bumper carts to roller-skating. As funny as it is, in the end it’s the explosive tune that keeps you watching, with jangly riffs and throat scorching sing-alongs, Spring King know how to rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgwm9wrbL7Y
Bassnectar, TKO ft. Rye Rye & Zion I
After releasing his tenth studio album back in June, Cali’s dance king Bassnectar has returned with a powerful clip for this heavy single TKO. A genre defying mix of glitch, electronic and hip-hop, the gritty synth driven banger features both rap verses alongside a smooth hook from collaborators Rye Rye and Zion I. Bassnectar has always been known for pushing the boundaries with his music videos, and this was no different. An incredible mix of lo-fi and futuristic twangs, the clip is a testament to modern visual effects and editing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kekmipvfZ2I
Washington, Saint Lo
After releasing her last album back in 2014, there’s been quite a wait for fans of Megan Washington, but luckily, her newest video lives up to expectations. Written in LA, the track builds upon her relaxed electronic style, with her voice soaring smoothly over the wavy instrumental beneath. Playing along an equally powerful, experimental video, no doubt we can’t wait to see what Washington has next up her sleeves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40S9VeTrYA0
Words by Ruby-Rose Pivet-Marsh and Martin McConnell
Image: ATCQ
Universal Music Production Music has announced that it is launching an ‘urban music focused label’ called BLOCK in conjunction with hip-hop music management firm London Boy Entertainment.
According to the company, the London-based label will “draw on influences from the unique urban scenes of the UK and the US”, including, “sounds and overtones crafted especially to suit the needs of TV, film, radio and advertising producers.”
The company will work with artists and producers from LBE’s roster, including ADP, Alan Sampson, Levi Lennox and Tiago who between them have helped to craft the music of Rihanna, Alesha Dixon, Naughty Boy and Emeli Sandé.
The aim is to create a number of albums for commercial use, while drawing on hip hop and urban trends from the US and UK. Some of the categories included in the first releases will be “Attitude, “R’n’B” and “Urban Rhythms”, allowing TV execs and film editors to choose the “appropriate” sound for their commercial intent.
Kris Piling, UK senior producer at BLOCK, says that production music clients love using urban and hip hop for commercial purposes.
“Production music clients love authentic urban music,” says Piling. “It’s still quite an untouched landscape, so we’re thrilled to have BLOCK in our arsenal as it means we can offer content producers a quality of urban music that has only ever been available on the commercial side.”
Using music for commercial placement, known better as the “synch” market or “synching”, is becoming a more and more prevalent within the music scene. Once reviled and seen as a sell-out, even indie and alternative artists are now using synching to make a living.
The managing director of London Boy Entertainment, Sef Naqui, says that, “The beauty of BLOCK is that we’re putting out music from the same pool of tracks that are being pitched to contemporary recording artists and labels across the world. UPPM works with us to select their favourites and then we act real quick to ensure they’re not signed up elsewhere first.
“We’ve got such a strong set of producers now that we’ve got enough material to cover all channels. We’re really excited about the UPPM partnership because it puts our incredible artists in front of content creators world-wide, giving them potentially great media exposure, and us an additional income stream. And for UPPM clients it means they could be using music from the next big urban artists before they’ve even broken.”
Is the burgeoning synch market a good or bad thing for the music industry and up-and-coming musicians alike? For now it looks like one of the only viable ways to get exposure and a decent pay check.