Ben Killen’s “Singing River Blues” is a song built on memory, loss and the timeless pulse of the blues.

With his debut music video, Killen transforms these themes into a striking visual experience – one that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant to many people.

Shot, directed, edited, and produced by the artist himself, the video stands out not only for Killen’s raw talent, but also, his dedication to storytelling through music and film.

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The video’s aesthetic is rich and layered, blending high-quality stock footage with intimate, close-up shots of Killen himself.

The result is a seamless interplay between the past and present, re-inforcing the song’s core themes of musical heritage and personal reflection. The presence of the steamboat, which is one of the most potent symbols in the piece, feels like a nod to the blues’ deep Southern roots as well as a metaphor for the journey of loss and remembrance.

Killen’s on-screen performance is captivating. Although he is lip-syncing to his own studio recording, there’s an undeniable authenticity in his delivery. Every glance, every frame carries the weight of the song’s emotional depth, making it impossible for the viewer not to be drawn in.

The decision to shoot these sequences simply, in front of a glass wardrobe in his Brooklyn apartment, adds an unfiltered honesty that grounds the video in reality.

From a technical standpoint, Singing River Blues is an impressive achievement. With limited resources, Killen has created a video that looks as refined as any major-label production. His dedication to achieving full 4K resolution, despite the painstaking rendering process, shows just how much care and passion went into bringing this vision to life. The integration of beautifully choreographed dance sequences and historical footage from collaborators like BDKMG and the lloolk agency elevates the video, making it feel cinematic yet also very personal.

What sets this video apart is its ability to make you feel something.

This is not simply a visual accompaniment to a song. It is more of an extension of the music itself, a living, breathing tribute to those we’ve lost and the traditions that shape us.

For a debut music video, Singing River Blues is excellent. It not only highlights Killen’s skills as a musician but also establishes him as a powerful visual storyteller.

Keep up to date with Ben Killen on his Website