by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’S WITH SIREN

Siren is back with a bang, delivering a potent mix of gritty storytelling and visuals in their latest single, “Dead Beggar.”

Known for their melodic rock fusion and thought-provoking lyrics, the band takes listeners on a journey into the heart of societal divides, tackling the age-old battle between the wealthy elite and the oppressed.

Inspired by the epic power struggles of Game of Thrones, “Dead Beggar” paints a raw, emotional picture of the haves and the have-nots, with a triumphant twist- the underdogs finally win.

To bring this powerful message to life, Siren partnered with acclaimed video director Isaac Deitz, who transformed their vision into a stunning, cinematic masterpiece.

The video, filmed across Coral Springs, FL, and downtown Atlanta blends striking visuals with a storyline that symbolizes the fight for control and the eventual rise of the downtrodden.

In this exclusive interview, lead singer Rob Phillips opens up about the creative process, the inspiration behind the song and its striking video, and how the collaboration with Deitz elevated “Dead Beggar” to a whole new level.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?

We wrote the song with a Game of Thrones vibe. It is about the haves and have nots. The visualization was the work of our video director Isaac Deitz. He is extremely talented and has a gift for bringing our music to life on the screen.

2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

We wanted to show a power struggle between the classes of the wealthy and the poor. The orb in the video represents the power that eventually gets taken by the poor. Isaac did an amazing job delivering a powerful visual representation of the song.

3. What was the process of making the video?

The narrator shots were done at our Coral Springs, FL Studio with a black screen. The remaining shots were done in downtown Atlanta, Georgia with the two other actors, the boy and the villain.

They both did a fantastic performance.

Siren’s latest single “Dead Beggar” is distributed through The Orchard / SONY via Madison Records.

Connect with Siren via:

Website I Instagram I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube I Spotify I Soundcloud

09.22.24

by Jane Lambert

Bud E. Luv’s Timeless Take on “Music to Watch Girls By”

Bobby Vickers, performing under his iconic alter ego Bud E. Luv, delivers a striking revival of the classic “Music to Watch Girls By” that both honors the song’s history and reframes it for modern times.

In his new interpretation, Bud E. Luv expertly balances nostalgia with fresh, sophisticated flair, crafting a rendition that feels both familiar and entirely new.

Watch the music video here:

Bud E. Luv is no stranger to reinventing classic tunes. Created by Vickers more than 35 years ago, the character has become a fixture in San Francisco’s vibrant music scene, with performances at legendary venues like Bimbo’s, The Fillmore, and Paradise Lounge.

Bud E. Luv’s alter ego allows Vickers to explore an array of musical genres, from jazz and swing to pop, all while remaining timeless. His extensive career has taken him to stages across major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Boston, where he’s performed for prestigious audiences, including at events like the MTV-televised Osbourne vow renewal and Super Bowl Eve celebrations.

The black-and-white music video accompanying this release is directed by Tom Donald, the founder of San Francisco’s hiTrecords.

Set in the elegant Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club, the sparse backdrop of empty seats evokes a sense of introspection, drawing the viewer into Bud E. Luv’s contemplative performance.

The mysterious figure of Ilana Niernberger, who is Luv’s only member in the audience, adds a layer of intrigue. Her eventual disappearance is most reminiscent of an Ingmar Bergman film and gives us a symbolic and haunting touch, suggesting that what we admire often exists only in fleeting moments.

Vocally, Bud E. Luv offers a smooth, nuanced performance that strips away the kitsch associated with some earlier versions of the song.

This includes Andy William’s popular but often overly polished rendition. Luv’s phrasing, rich with emotion and subtlety, brings out the layers of complexity within the song, making it clear that his version is not merely about watching or objectifying but also about celebrating people in all of their diversity.

Tom Donald’s direction also plays a pivotal role in modernizing the piece. By focusing on the respectful recognition of beauty rather than its objectification, Donald transforms “Music to Watch Girls By” from a product of its era into a meditation on human connection.

He smartly acknowledges the original’s historical context without being confined by it, presenting a version that speaks to contemporary sensibilities:

“The world is there and meant to be recognized, valued, and respected,” Donald says. “Mr Luv understands the essential dynamic between people; he’s lived long enough and seen enough of the world to know that it’s not about degrading the visage, but instead honoring and celebrating it in all its forms.”

This project reinforces Bud E. Luv’s status as a timeless entertainer. His ability to adapt to changing times while maintaining the integrity of his performance persona is impressive.

For fans of classic standards as well as newcomers, this is a definitive version of “Music to Watch Girls By” that deserves attention.

Keep up to date with Bud E. Luv on his Website.

09.18.24

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’S WITH STEPHEN JAYMES

We are thrilled to sit down with Stephen Jaymes to talk about the music video to his new single “Saving Daylight.”

Stephen is an artist who tells bold stories through his music and visuals. The new single comes with an evocative video, taking us on a journey that merges personal memory with a sense of solitude and reflection.

Taking inspiration from his own childhood experience as well as recent life events, Stephen explores the theme of isolation, the passage of time, and the emotions tied to being alone.

In this exclusive Video Voyageur we find out how AI was used to create a video that beautifully mirrors the song’s theme:

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in
this way?

The story of Saving Daylight begins with a young child waiting in the dark predawn hours for his school bus to arrive. Waiting alone, in the cold, surrounded by snow, with a cold face pointed toward the end of the street where the headlights would show. Staring and silently waiting. But most of all, waiting for the sun to appear and feeling like time doesn’t really exist, or doesn’t exist yet.

2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

Saving Daylight explores the feelings that come from being left alone and being told it’s good for you. It’s about all the thoughts and memories that spring from that experience. Last year my partner had to attend to her dying father, and she spent some time away.

We said it was a silver lining that I could have some time to focus on finishing the album. But after she’d gone, I felt this strange echo back to childhood, and the first times I was told that being alone was good for me. There’s a lot of my personal story in this song and in the video.

3. What was the process of making the video?

I knew I wanted to explore overlaps between my performance of the song and images that represent both the Los Angeles me now and the Michigan me as a child. I found a lot of resonant stock footage to serve as a sort of a continuous dreamworld establishing shot, pinging back and forth between California palm trees and the tall pines of my childhood.

I used a series of art pieces in the video that I created with the help of AI. They help to tell the story of a midwest boy who is lonely in California, thinking about when he was lonely as a child. I wanted the art to be dreamlike, and to have the quality of art you might see as a child in a school or doctor’s office. I had to do a lot of experimentation with different prompts to get what I wanted.

After I had finally got the art right and licensed the stock footage, I cut it all together on my iPad Pro using the Videoleap app.

“Saving Daylight” was written, performed, engineered, recorded, and produced by Stephen Jaymes. Mixed and mastered by Zsolt Virag. Cover art by Stephen Jaymes.

Stay connected with Stephen Jaymes here:

Website // Facebook // Instagram // Spotify // Soundcloud // Apple Music // YouTube Music

09.14.24

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’S WITH GRETTA ZILLER

In the realm of music videos where elaborate sets and high-tech effects often dominate, Gretta Ziller’s latest project for her single “Hell’s Half Acre” offers a refreshing departure with its raw, organic appeal.

As a celebrated Americana artist, marking a decade in music, Ziller’s new video is a deeply personal and evocative piece that reflects both her artistic evolution and the story behind her song.

“Hells’s Half Acre” is a track that holds special significance for Ziller as it represents a pivotal moment in her career.

The video, which has been created with a distinctive DIY approach, mirrors the song’s themes of departure, regret, and self-reflection through its earthy, vintage visuals. Rather than presenting a straightforward narrative, the video subtly suggests the song’s story, allowing viewers to interpret and connect with it on a personal level.

We caught up with Ziller to find out more about the creative process behind the video, the inspiration behind it and the innovative techniques used.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in
this way?

“Hell’s Half Acre” holds a special place in my heart as one of the first songs I released when I began my musical journey a decade ago. The song is about getting out of a ‘bad for you’ relationship, the person in the beginning was attracted to the wild/rebelliousness character but in the end it wasn’t who they were and they had to leave.

Although it’s technically a fictitious story there are elements of truth in it. I wrote the song when I was moving from a regional area to a city, a friend of mine was going through a messy divorce, I did know someone in a bike gang, and the Shady Pines Saloon is a real bar and Hell’s Half Acre is a real place! I didn’t get to make a music video for the original recording so this time I wanted to create something that hinted at the story but also allowed the watcher to make up their own about the song.

2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

For the release of the new video, I really wanted to create an organic, earthy, vintage feel that complemented the themes of the song. The inspiration was to suggest the story in “Hell’s Half Acre” without being too literal, using subtle visuals like packing a bag, a dirt road that becomes asphalt, the view outside the car and glimpses of chapels. The idea was to provide hints that evoke the feeling of leaving, regret, and that lingering sense of “I’m old enough to have known better” rather than showing every detail.

I wanted layered visuals to further the idea of memory flashbacks with the feeling of moving forward. Most of all I wanted the clip to allow the watcher the freedom to connect emotionally while imagining the storyline for themselves.

3. What was the process of making the video?

For this video, I took a more DIY approach, which was really exciting and different from how I’ve worked before. I had the concept in mind, and I shared it with my videographer, Arlo Dean Cook, who has done most of my music videos. However, this time, my partner and I decided to film it ourselves.

We spent a day on the west side of Melbourne, capturing the landscape and beautiful Catholic shrines using just our phones. Once we had all the footage, I sent it over to Arlo, and he worked his magic and put it all together. It was a really fun and creatively liberating experience—filming, exploring new parts of my creativity, and having a more hands-on role in bringing the vision to life!

Stay connected with Gretta Ziller on her Website.

Stream music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

08.12.24

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’s with STEVEN CHESNE

In a world increasingly divided by borders, languages, and ideologies, there comes a powerful musical statement that seeks to remind us of our shared origins and intertwined destinies.

Steven Chesne, the visionary composer behind the genre-defying album “Descendants (in 79 Languages)“, has released a music video that’s as innovative and thought-provoking as the album itself.

This project brings together voices from around the globe, bringing them together into a landscape of sound and imagery that speaks to our shared humanity and interconnected fate. Unfolding over a period of four years, Chesne led the meticulous translation efforts with native speakers brought on board to ensure both accuracy and cultural authenticity in the final work.

In this interview, Steven Chesne takes us behind the scenes of this extraordinary new music video that has been making waves in the world music scene, sharing the inspiration and challenges that came with visualizing a song as unique as “We Are the Descendants.”

From the futuristic setting to the profound messages embedded within, he explores the artistry and vision that make this video a compelling extension of the album’s themes of unity and cultural fusion.

The accompanying music video takes this message to new heights, blending futuristic visuals with a global chorus of voices to create an immersive experience that resonates on a deep, emotional level:

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?

The whole time I was working on this song, “We are the Descendants”, I knew it had to be listened to in conjunction with a video.

With all of these languages weaving in and out, you really get a whole different dimension if there’s some visual cues about what language you’re hearing.

This is really how that song is meant to be heard!

2. What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

I had been thinking about the fragmenting of civilization. And yet, we are all made of the same material. We have a shared origin, and whether we like it or not, our fate is intertwined.

It led me to find a commonality that spans humanity. What can everybody yell out? “We are the descendants.”

We don’t think of this idea too much, but when we hear it, it sounds familiar. And it lifts us up just a tiny bit. It moves the waves just slightly in that direction.

3. Can you describe the video and the concept behind it?

Most of the action in part one takes place on Earth in the future, after the Earth becomes trashed and uninhabitable. So Fredo Bang is walking inside a very large “earth station” that is very clean and antiseptic, and separate from the barren desert outside.

On the walls of this structure are video monitors with faces of all of the vocalist from all over the world. Each one of them sings their phrase as they weave together, between Fredo Bang’s rapping.

There’s a young boy on the Earth station, who is experimenting with a giant laser that eventually pierces the wall of the structure. This takes us to part two of the video which uses music from the big Finale at the end of the album. There is also some new music scored for the video, to connect the two songs.

The key concept behind the dramatic ending is that all of us are going to have to struggle together if we’re to survive together. Our fate is intertwined.

The music that accompanies the big ending dramatic part, the Finale of the album, involves all of the languages singing simultaneously. This sounds a bit like a gigantic nebula sort of choir. This sound is eventually overtaken by a symphony orchestra. The choir and the orchestra struggle together, and it’s a really unique, fascinating sound. It’s an extremely full, very complex texture.

Keep up to date with Steven Chesne at www.chezworks.com

07.29.24

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’s with STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION

R.O.N., the creative genius behind STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION, recently released new single “KATAWARA” which is the opening for the anime “Sengoku Youko: The Thousandfold Chaos Arc”.

This new track is an amazing mix of authentic Japanese sounds and modern rock, encapsulating a profound message about living life with purpose and without regrets.

It’s the perfect opening theme, intertwining haunting melodies of the shakuhachi, the resonant strings of the koto, and the dynamic presence of the shamisen instrument creating a contemporary sound that perfectly complements the fast-paced and evolving storyline of “Sengoku Youko.”

STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION also discusses the importance of synchronizing the lyrics with the animation, making sure that the video not only tells a story the lyrics tie in so closely with the story because they worked with the director to make this song:

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in
this way?

This song says, “It is important to live your life without regrets when you look back on it at the end of your life. It is very important to have a firm sense of purpose at the present time, and to have the will to always grasp the principles of your actions. If you are able to do this, then you must accept everything.”

I often attend events abroad these days.

There, I am experiencing firsthand the influence of anime. That’s why I made the video to let people around the world know more about this song.

2. What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

I wrote the lyrics with an awareness of the beauty of the Japanese language while staying close to the content of the anime “Sengoku Yokou”, so I created a video with the lyrics on the anime image.

3. What was the process of making this video?

I asked them to match the timing of the lyrics with the animated images and to make the video something that I would never get tired of watching.

I asked them to keep in mind the flow of the story of anime “Sengoku Yokou”.

—

In many ways, STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION’s new single “KATAWARA” represents a new milestone in anime music. The meticulous attention to detail in synchronizing the music with the animation and the thoughtful integration of traditional Japanese instruments showcase R.O.N.’s exceptional artistry and dedication.

Through this groundbreaking video, the viewer is invited to embrace life’s journey with purpose and to appreciate the timeless beauty of Japanese culture, re-imagined for a modern world.

Connect with STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION:

Website // Facebook // Instagram // X // Spotify // Apple Music // YouTube

====