Executive Producer

Andre Reid-McKinley

In this eerie, sensory video for Junodream, director Ned Botwood imagines ‘a day at the beach’ with the lights turned out.The video for The Beach is a languid montage of lunar beach scenes. Sand, swimmers, sunbathers, dogs and dust are all incongruously reframed at nighttime. Anonymous characters stare at the horizon, waiting for the wind to change.&nbsp;Making stark use of negative space and roaming spotlights, cameraman Joseph Dunn shoots the beach like a dreamy moonscape. This is emphasised by a silvery colour grade by Ruth Wardell at Time Based Arts. Echoes&nbsp;of Radiohead's Street Spirit, in fact, and the song happens to be a&nbsp;catchy indie rock anthem in the mould of that 90s classic.[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2]“I try not to stay at the beach after the sun’s gone down - It’s too eerie for me," admits Botwood. "Once the tourists go home, it’s just flat land, heat, bugs, wind and darkness. There’s so little visual context, you might as well be on the moon. We wanted to imagine what a beach looks like to someone who can only remember little dark parts of it.“I really really have to thank Joseph Dunn and his camera team, Kevin Corry and The Assembly Rooms, and Ruth Wardell and Time Based Arts, who were all so generous lending their skill to such a tiny project!”

United Kingdom

Ned Botwood

Joseph Dunn

Kevin Corry

The Assembly Rooms

Ruth Wardell

Time Based Arts

Ben Carey

Somesuch

Georgina Fillmore

Saskia Whinney

Harry Tomlin

Tom Clapson

Paul Brennan

Ivan Wood

Kitty Sutton

Phoebe Armstrong-Beaver

Dan Kreeger

Rock

Indie

Indie Rock

Space Rock

Junodream 'The Beach' by Ned Botwood

Junodream "The Beach"

Mollie Mills directs a deliciously sensual promo for Romy, filmed in Spain.&nbsp;The video for The Sea presents an evocative montage of intimate moments, set against a backdrop of the humid Spanish&nbsp;coast.&nbsp;With a nostalgic, almost poignant vibe and a subtle flair of AI experimentation, it's a video that perfectly suits the mood of the track, and feels almost like&nbsp;watching a stranger's dream - in the best way possible.

Mollie Mills

Elliot Zelmanovits

Smile

Gemma Sellares

MatÍas Penachino

Laia Navarro

Jack Williams

Studio RM

Raul Mulas

Alberto Ojeda

David Felices

Júlia Bas Anglès

Matt King

Andrea Trenado

Natalia Montoya

Guillem Jimenez

Myles Bevan

Romy 'The Sea' by Mollie Mills

Romy - The Sea (Official Video)

When Stormzy does videos, he does them big, and the video&nbsp;for Toxic Trait, directed by Femi Ladi,&nbsp;is no different, boasting a&nbsp;tour de force&nbsp;of set builds, visual effects and cameos - delivered with a mesmerizing motion controlled camera&nbsp;move.What's more, there's a dramatised therapy session featuring guest artist Fredo - with his therapist played by TV royalty Alison Hammond.The video fictionally contextualises a plethora of 'toxic' situations that Stormzy refers to in the track, honing in on gambling, violence and the glorification of luxury lifestyles. And as the camera shifts between multiple versions of the grime superstar, Ladi introduces&nbsp;significant, historical cultural moments from over the years, including the iconic&nbsp;1968 Esquire Magazine cover of Muhammed Ali and Kehinde Wiley’s prominent painting, A Ship Of Fools.[imgtoken data:1]When the action breaks for the therapy scene with Fredo and Hammond, it's a welcome development of the theme that also adds a touch of humour. Then it concludes with a group-therapy session which features further cameos from a range of British figureheads including Ivorian Doll, Wretch 32 and Specs Gonzalez.Filmed in London earlier this year, the&nbsp;majority of the visual was shot on a high-speed, cinema robot camera, capable of horizontal&nbsp;and vertical movement speeds of up to 2 metres per second.[imgtoken data:2]“After listening to the lyrics, I wanted to have fun with this video," Femi Ladi has stated.&nbsp;"I liked the idea of bringing a Renaissance-style painting to life, whilst still feeling grounded in the world of Stormzy."We collaborated on all the scenarios together which was great - as well as being able to bring in the likes of Fredo and Alison Hammond for their own toxic therapy sessions!"​

Femi Ladi

Nicola Sheppard

Chris Watling

Tom Gardner

Ruben Woodin Deschamps

Tuncer Ozdemir

Chris Kelly

Hatty Ellis-Coward

Leo Olesker

Melissa Holdbrook-Akposo

Cabin Edit

Amber Saunders

Coffee & TV

Max Harrison

G6 Moco

Studio Augmenta

Lewis Crossfield

Luke Todd

Grime

Stormzy ft Fredo 'Toxic Trait' by Femi Ladi 

STORMZY - TOXIC TRAIT ft. FREDO

Renee Maria Osubu tells the story of a grieving family, within the wider context of the Black British experience, in Dirt In The Diamond, a short film that incorporates three songs from Jords album, with the same name, performed by the artist.In the first part, we are introduced to the main characters at a family gathering at the home of the Walkers, prior to the funeral of their son, where Jords performs MoBay with Tay Iwar. It's&nbsp;shot by cinematographer Courtney J. Bennett in rich colour, with an intimacy that recalls Steve McQueen's 'house party' film Lovers Rock.That is followed by the funeral of the son - the procession behind the coffin and church service -&nbsp;shot in stark black and white, in which we hear iPray by Jords, Wretch 32 and Miles from Kinshasa. Finally, the drama is replaced by a montage of&nbsp;archive footage of Black Londoners from the 1970s to the present day - including footage of era-defining protests against racism and prejudice -&nbsp;&nbsp;as Jords performs Fist In The Sky.&nbsp;Renee Maria Osubu&nbsp;brings the personal and the political together, and interrogates the nature of grief - which one character describes as "the truest form of love" - in compelling fashion.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;&nbsp;[imgtoken data:2]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Renee Maria Osubu

Maëva Demurger

Amara Rossell

Courtney J. Bennett

Lainy Black

Jodie-simone Howe

Elena Muntoni

Femi Konteh

Will Berger

Kharmel Cochrane

Rose Powell

Josh Fashola

Anne-Sofie Lindgaard

Danny Rumbelow

Dan Deighton

Ryan Rae

Grant Sandy Phillips

Luis Lopez

Krunal Saadrani

Léa Anderson

Lamar Lee

Jason Wallis

Electric Theatre Collective

Olivia Jessop

Benson Udia

Motown Records UK

Hip Hop

Jords 'Dirt In The Diamond (a short film)' by Renee Maria Osubu

Jords - DIRT IN THE DIAMOND (A SHORT FILM)

Tajana Tokyo directs a slick, feelgood promo for BRIT-winning girl group FLO's team-up with the legendary&nbsp;Missy Elliott.&nbsp;Taking inspiration from Missy Elliott's 2002 hit Work It, the main refrain&nbsp;of Fly Girl has&nbsp;manifested one of the best collabs in recent memory, in this fusion of old school and modern R&amp;B.&nbsp;And Tajana Tokyo's&nbsp;accompanying video has a vibrant, celebratory concept.It takes place at a packed bar, where the trio perform, dance and get down with the party vibes, joined by a whole host of energetic characters.&nbsp;Representing the nostalgia of the Noughties with a future-facing, contemporary vibe, it's an immediately engaging visual with a brilliant cameo from the icon herself, which will have fans of both artists on the edge of their seats.[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2][imgtoken data:3]

Katie South

Chloe Rosolek

Tajana Tokyo

Scarlett Anderson

Saorla Houston

Holly Williams

Shaun Waldie

Nathalie Pitters

Zorica ŠaliĆ

Philips Nortey

Matt Alsop

Catherina Scarpellini

Rebecca Richards

Island

FLO ft Missy Elliott 'Fly Girl' by Tajana Tokyo

Flo-Ft-Missy-Elliott-'Fly-Girl'-by-Tajana-Tokyo

<h3>In the first of a new series, we ask André Reid-McKinley -&nbsp;Somesuch's music video rep in London - about the important take-aways from&nbsp;2022, and his predictions and hopes for 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>André&nbsp;recalls an eye-opening trip to Los Angeles&nbsp;last year, tips a new wave of emerging directors&nbsp;for greatness, and&nbsp;ponders how the business of music video production may evolve in the coming months.2022How would you describe last year in a few words?Challenging - but it was a good learning experience. Found different ways to work more efficiently and effectively.&nbsp;What was your favourite project or projects you worked on last year?Duncan Loudon’s video for Tourist's Your Love, which won an MVA for the Best Dance/Electronic Video. That&nbsp;was pretty special.&nbsp;[vidtoken data:0]Above:&nbsp;Tourist -&nbsp;Your Love, directed by Duncan LoudonA few other highlights include Femi Ladi’s video for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/04/30/chase-status-mixed-emotions-femi-ladi/76137" target="_blank">Chase &amp; Status' Mixed Emotions</a>. But S/O to Vince Haycock’s<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/08/31/maxo-ft-pink-siifu-48-vincent-haycock/78065" target="_blank"> Maxo (48)</a>, Tajana Tokyo’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQFTC6YKh-U" target="_blank">Channel Tres (6am)</a>&nbsp;and Autumn Durald Arkapaw's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx_OexsUI2M" target="_blank">Rihanna video for Lift Me Up</a> - wish I was involved in that one.<blockquote>"Going to karaoke for my first time ever and experiencing that with Cliqua I feel is something everyone should experience."</blockquote>Any other project you enjoyed that deserved more attention, or went under the radar?Leo Leigh’s video for The Smile's Free in the Knowledge (below). It was the first music video he’s done with us at Somesuch - the art designer on set was incredible and made this whole universe for the video.What were the best aspects of the job last year?I think one of the best aspects all year round is the people you meet and the connections built, whether it's directors, commissioners, artists, managers and young creatives.&nbsp;What were the most challenging aspects of the job last year? Coming out of the pandemic, generally last year was a bit slow. Which was a challenge as part of my role is ensuring that all our directors are booked and busy.It's a balancing act between ensuring a good range of jobs. So helping build reels for young directors, but also sharing interesting projects with the more experienced directors, to help them progress in different ways.&nbsp;[vidtoken data:1]Above: The Smile - Free In The Knowledge, directed by Leo LeighBest or favourite video or videos last year that you weren’t involved with?<ul><li>Nathan Tettey’s Avelino ft. RA (Real Artillery) - GOD SAVE THE STREETS PT. 2&nbsp;</li><li>Rubberbandz for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/12/20/lucky-daye-ft-lil-durk-nwa-rubberband/79786" target="_blank">Lucky Daye ft Lil Durk - NWA</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Felix Brady for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/08/26/greentea-peng-look-him-felix-brady/78087" target="_blank">GreenTea Peng – Look To Him</a> (I’m a small gamer. I say small because I’m too busy to legit call myself a gamer)</li><li>François Rousselet&nbsp;for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/06/13/pharrell-ft-21-savage-tyler-creator-cash-cash-out-francois-rousselet/76822" target="_blank">Pharrell's Cash in Cash Out</a></li></ul>I could actually name a few more too. So sorry for those I’ve missed out that I really should have included.What was other cultural highlight (or highlights) of the year?&nbsp;In terms of videos I feel KLVDR's video for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/09/27/stormzy-mel-made-me-do-it-klvdr/78544" target="_blank">Stormzy's Mel Made Me Do It</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/11/11/raye-ft-070-shake-escapism-otis-dominique-raye/79239" target="_blank">Otis Dominique's for Raye's Escapism</a> were highlights. They both in different ways show the outcome/impact a video can have when you don’t focus on outside noise.&nbsp;Any other personal experience that defines 2022 for you?Travel last year was great - with and without work. Such an eye-opener for me, especially my trip to LA.&nbsp;Seeing the difference between people’s energies in LA and the UK and comparing it. From our Somesuch office over there and meeting those staff to other creatives I had the pleasure of meeting.Also going to karaoke for my first time ever, and experiencing that with Cliqua I feel is something everyone should experience.<blockquote>There will be a lot of exciting releases this year - I’m intrigued to see the visuals to come with it.</blockquote>2023What are you looking forward to in 2023 – both for work and for other parts of your life?I feel there will be a lot of exciting releases this year and I’m intrigued to see the visuals to come with it.&nbsp;On a personal level - planning on launching something this year but watch this space.&nbsp;As well as Somesuch’s film department - really excited to see the work we produce.Have you set work objectives for this year and if so, what are they?In my yearly review at Somesuch they asked us to write 3/4 goals for next year. I ended up writing about 6/7. I won’t disclose all but I’d like to win us 15+ Jobs. A few single bids for some of our directors. Bring in a certain number of budgets of a certain price range up.I won’t reveal too much more since it's enough having my team hold me accountable for my big goals. LOL!Who are the up-and-coming talents that you think will break through this year – or at least deserve to be successful?I have a few, even regarding artists. I’m not too sure what qualifies for up-and-coming these days so I hope these names don’t cause offence but...<ul><li>Jeano Edwards</li><li>Renee Maria-Osubu</li><li>Tajana Tokyo</li><li>Edem Wornoo</li><li>Gabriel Moses</li><li>Kay Ibrahim&nbsp;</li><li>Gabriella Kingsley</li><li>Taliable</li><li>Lydia Garnett</li></ul>There’s so much talent around at the moment, I could truly write a few more names down.[vidtoken data:2]Above: Adidas Originals x Wales&nbsp;Bonner, directed by Jeano EdwardsWhat is your prediction for the direction of the industry in 2023? And what will be the big trends for the year ahead?It’s always quite hard to predict, especially when sometimes videos and events can cause waves within the industry. I feel like we’d be moving towards a better direction for fairer pay and equity for creatives in music videos. Also:<ul><li>Short films, more narrative longer music videos, wider content around artists in addition to just videos.</li><li>More brands getting involved in music projects to connect to a younger audience.</li><li>One thing I’d personally love to see is more women directing music videos and being recognised through award shows like the UKMVAs.&nbsp;</li><li>Finally I think we’ll see more artists directing or being more involved within the creative process.</li></ul><blockquote>It would be great for videos to get more investment to realise the creative visions.</blockquote>Any other comments about the current environment for music video production and music video creativity? What are the issues that we should be most concerned with?Sometimes it feels like there can be a disconnect between briefs, creative expectations and budgets. We always try to be creative to pull things together and leaning on our connects, giving opportunities to younger directors, etc. But it would be great for videos to get more investment to realise the creative visions.The crews that work on these rely on the jobs for their day-to-day income, so there should be accountability to ensure everyone is getting to eat properly.If you could ‘make a wish’, and reform or change the environment in which you work in one way, what would you wish for?&nbsp;&nbsp;Like all the previous questions I could write a mini-dissertation on this. It is quite hard to choose one but I’d probably say, after having a conversation with Nathan Tettey about this recently and he summed it so well:"Creatives need to now be respectfully reimbursed financially for the work they put into music videos…"Have you made any personal New Year resolutions? And if so, how’s it going?I don’t really make resolutions because I always strive to be a better person / better version of me everyday. I am my biggest critique and truly set high standards for myself and those I work with. So I’d probably say to stay consistent and disciplined in everything I’m trying to achieve.•&nbsp;André Reid-McKinley is Music Video Rep&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://somesuch.co/directors" target="_blank">Somesuch</a> in London.&nbsp;

State of Play: André Reid-McKinley, Somesuch 

Tourist-'Your-Love'-by-Duncan-Loudon

The-Smile-'Free-In-The-Knowledge'-by-Leo-Leigh-

adidas Originals by Wales Bonner (2021) A film by Wales Bonner and Jeano Edwards

Nia Archives takes a contemplative walk through late-night London, in the video for So Tell Me...Co-directed by Dan Emmerson and the artist herself, the video intercuts the gentle performance section with a series of slow-shutter vignettes, depicting the complex relationship between a young couple.&nbsp;Showing their lives in separate (yet interconnected) scenes, the video hints at the bond between them, which is confirmed at the end of the video when they detach from their different groups of friends to finally meet up.The bittersweet, romantic&nbsp;concept is beautifully executed, with the frantic cinematography reflecting the contrast of the track - a jungle beat set against melancholic melodies.&nbsp;Wonderful work.&nbsp;

Dan Emmerson

Nia Archives

Rowan Mackintosh King

Keaton Williams

Thom Neal

Pete Wade

Jack Ainsworth

Riaz Ahmed

Jake Gerrard

Yusif Al-Karaghouli

Roxanne Farahmand

Jamie Alexandra Judd

Tasnim Nahar

Ben Crook

Harriet Cawley

Tim Smith

No.8

Charlie Morris

Alt Jungle

Nia Archives 'So Tell Me…' by Dan Emmerson & Nia Archives

Nia Archives - So Tell Me…

Ned Botwood directs a big-hearted love letter to the West Country, by way of the American West for Metronomy frontman&nbsp;Joseph Mount's wonderful duet with Katy J Pearson for Love Factory.This song is an absolute peach, and the video highlights the special chemistry that is created by bringing fellow west country artist Pearson on board. Botwood channels the visuals from 1960s US TV variety shows, and the legendary&nbsp;performances by Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and June Carter, blending&nbsp;British and American rural iconography, superimposing Katy and Joseph into sweeping Devon landscapes.Shot with a distinctly American flavour by DP Jamie Harding, the video trades prairie grass for wheat stubble and wide highways for narrow country lanes. The landscapes were captured over a sunset-chasing road trip through the South Hams in Jamie’s van.[imgtoken data:1]Ned, Jamie and editor Kevin Corry worked to recreate a variety of old-school televisual devices. Shooting country vistas to line up with studio performances, then using a combination of back projection, black negative space and lo-fi blending effects to merge them together.Eagle-eyed viewers will also spot a handful of homages to American cult classics, including Paris Texas, My Own Private Idaho and The Night of the Hunter. “What I love about this song is that it just sounds like it’s always been around, like an old standard on the radio," says Botwood.&nbsp;"It made me think of that golden age of country performances on TV in the late ’60s. Those variety hours like Kraft Music Hall and The Porter Wagoner Show.[imgtoken data:2]"Those shows really threw everything at the wall. All those charmingly janky sets and camera effects. Dolly Parton playing her Grammer guitar on a plastic porch, or Loretta Lynn superimposed onto rural Kentucky, or truly weird images like three disembodied Peggy Lee heads trading lyrics in different corners of the screen.“So much country music is about *home*. And if you absorb enough US culture, you can end up with this weird nostalgia for a rural heartland you’ve never actually been to. But it does make sense. When Dolly sings about her ‘Tennessee Mountain Home’, you understand that feeling instinctively, even if you’ve only been as close as the West Country. Katy, Joe and I are all connected to Devon. And sometimes when you’re down there, on the right day and in the right light, it really does look like the American prairie.”“Metronomy and Katy are two of my big indie heroes. So I was very sweaty when the email arrived! But I had the nicest team. Shoutout to Jamie Harding, who took me and his Arriflex sunset-chasing in Devon for two days. And Kevin Corry, who killed it in the edit.”

Joshua Gochez

Athene Xenia Aristocleous

Bo Dubema

Lydia Martland

DOGEATDOG

Natalia Maus

Yan Murawski

Jamie Harding

Pòl Gil

Orlando Morris

Riccardo Angei

Molly Whiteley

Okay Studios

Because Music

Metronomy & Katy J Pearson 'Love Factory' by Ned Botwood

Metronomy & Katy J Pearson's - Love Factory (Official Music Video)

Trailblazing London jazz outfit Ezra Collective hit the ring in Femi Ladi's joyous video for Victory Dance.Customers of a cornershop receive a mysterious invitation by the shopkeeper, leading them downstairs into the basement and a magical space. Suddenly we are in&nbsp;a big hall, a boxing ring in the middle - not to witness a boxing bout, but the moves of jazz dancer Jay Allen, and a thrilling performance of the individuals of Ezra Collective, and then the group as a whole.[imgtoken data:1]This is the band's first ever music video, reflecting their position at the heart of London's resurgent jazz scene. Femi Ladi achieves a sense of wonder and real occasion by keeping things based around the performances, and top and tailing the piece with the narrative element involving the audience. It really works.&nbsp;"I’m a big fan of the Ezra Collective, I find their music so refreshing and unexpected," says Ladi.&nbsp;"I had a personal experience of hearing the band's music for the first time when I stumbled into a performance of theirs by accident a few years back. I instantly became a fan. So, we went with an Idea that had similar journey of discovery with the band playing a secret gig somewhere quite unexpected."

Jake River Parker

Courtney Bennett

Oliver Bingham

Scarlett Gardner

Jay Gomez

Jamie Hitchens

Rosie Taylor

Jenny Glynn

Jay Allen

Kaz Ove

Yoomin Lee

Chris Anthony

Company 3

Shivam Solanki

Jazz

Ezra Collective 'Victory Dance' by Femi Ladi

Ezra Collective - Victory Dance (Official Video)

A story of going 'out out' - in all its glory, ecstasy, and some agony - superbly told by Femi Ladi.

Lane Casting

Joseph J Goldman

Matt Bohun

Emily Mulkerrins

Luke Morrison

Dance

Chase & Status 'Mixed Emotions' by Femi Ladi 

Chase-&-Status-'Mixed-Emotions'-by-Femi-Ladi-

Leo Leigh's debut video,&nbsp;for Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's new project The Smile, is a singularly intense experience. Leigh more or less dispenses with the causes of a trauma to confront the viewer with the harrowing results. You can only watch and wonder why - while listening to the altogether more gentle Free In The Knowledge.There are a couple of remarkable performances in the video, demonstrating distress and anguish in such visceral ways that it's hard not to think that some genuinely bad stuff happened just prior to when the camera started to roll.Halfway through, there are glimpses of exposition, snatches of other characters, and a ritualistic ceremony, suggestng the power dynamic of&nbsp;this haggard forest tribe. But it's those first two minutes that leave the most powerful impression.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Andre Reid-McKinley

Executive Producer

Interviews featuring Andre Reid-McKinley

Videos featuring Andre Reid-McKinley

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