Andre Reid-McKinley

Production Company

Somesuch

A sea of disembodied hands grapple with Kesha's face, in Vincent Haycock's striking visualiser for Eat The Acid.&nbsp;The comeback hit is taken from upcoming album Gag Order, and comes equipped with an organic yet entirely surreal one-shot visual, with fingers sliding over the artist's face and inside her mouth, eventually trapping her in a tight link of flesh.&nbsp;The uncomfortable, claustrophobic nature of the video reflects the haunting soundscapes in the track, and makes for a staggering video, which teases a strong concept for the new album.&nbsp;

United States

Vincent Haycock

Brian Roettinger

Aguita

Tim Nash

Sally Campbell

Alli Maxwell

Veronica Leon

Yamel Thompson

Jami Arceo

Ivy Lindsey

Steve Annis

Henry Martinez

Tyler Evans

Sandy Ganzer

Owen Gould

Turner

Dante Pasquinelli

Ethos Studio

Max Colt

Kesha 'Eat The Acid (Visualiser) by Vincent Haycock 

Kesha - Eat The Acid (Visualizer)

Alfred Marroquín reveals Post Malone's sensitive soul in the video for Chemical.It begins with Malone in the driving seat of a truck, but what appears at first to be a dramatic scenario is revealed to be the first set-up of a photo shoot.As the fourth wall comes down, Marroquín allows the artist to relax and dispense with some of his&nbsp;macho persona&nbsp;for this catchy pop number.

Alfred Marroquin

PlayLab Inc.

Devon Libran

Noire Creative

Sara Lacombe

Vanda Lee

Erik Mateo

Mika Alaskan

Noah Ramos

Anthony Foster

Ryan Breitenbach

Miranda Lorenz

Chiao Chen

Post Malone 'Chemical' by Alfred Marroquín

Post Malone - Chemical (Official Music Video)

Pop superstars Labrinth and Billie Eilish embrace the world of conceptual contemporary dance in Daniel Sannwald's video for Never Felt So Alone.Sannwald collaborated with&nbsp;Spanish choreographer&nbsp;Candela Capitán for the project, whose dance/performance art piece&nbsp;19762. Alone and Connected, was the inspiration behind&nbsp;the video. As in the original&nbsp;- which&nbsp;premiered at Kassel, Germany&nbsp;in 2022 - the performers (Labrinth, Eilish and other dancers) are dressed in white neoprene suits and their movements limited by harnesses and chains attached to a metal frame,&nbsp;becoming more impactful as a result.Capitán has commented that the original dance performance is a reflection how the internet&nbsp;and machines dictate our lives - and makes us both alone and connected. This idea translates extremely well in Sannwald's&nbsp;video, providing a striking visual metaphor to frame a song about a devastating sense of loneliness.It's a boundary-testing move from Labrinth, arguably bringing him more into edgier world of Billie&nbsp;Eilish, that pays off wonderfully well.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;

Daniel Sannwald

Dain August

Ashley Soloman

Rudy Grazziani

Bryan Younce

Columbia Records

Candela Capitan

Laura Goldenstein

Ev Salamon

Jeremy Valender

Mathias Peralta

Luke Poole

John Richoux

Nick Decell

Nikki Parisi

Lisa Jarvis

Lana Jay Lackey

Sienree Du

Emily Cheng

Ben Mohapi

Will Town

Modern Post

John O'Riordan

Pundersons Gardens

Labrinth ft Billie Eilish 'Never Felt So Alone' by Daniel Sannwald

Labrinth - Never Felt So Alone (Official Video)

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]

United Kingdom

Katie South

Chloe Rosolek

Tajana Tokyo

Scarlett Anderson

Saorla Houston

Holly Williams

Shaun Waldie

Nathalie Pitters

Saskia Whinney

Maëva Demurger

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

Vincent Haycock directs a thought-provoking promo for LA-based rapper Maxo.&nbsp;Shot by Steve Annis, the video is a dreamlike montage of the artist's performance, backdropped by the imposing architecture of the city around him.&nbsp;Interweaving shots of a girl dancing around the space, and bookended by spoken word interview snapshots, the video has an almost narrative structure to it, which plays out in an abstract, evocative fashion.&nbsp;Brilliant work with jaw-droppingly beautiful imagery and creative cinematography, which reunites&nbsp;Haycock with Maxo following the&nbsp;video last year for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/08/31/maxo-ft-pink-siifu-48-vincent-haycock/78065" target="_blank">48</a>.[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2][imgtoken data:3]&nbsp;

Nic Kirsten

Whitney Jackson

Dave Siefert

Bill Allegar

Luis Suarez

Chad Nagel

Maxo 'Free' by Vincent Haycock

Maxi-'Free'-by-Vincent-Haycock

<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

Rollo Jackson's arrresting visual for Overmono&nbsp;serves as a teaser for the electronica duo's new track Is U? - and their forthcoming debut album Good Lies.Jackson's video for the opening minute of Is U? begins with a aerial shot of a twisting road in the desert, then cuts between a BMW coasting along the road, and a&nbsp;Doberman dog (who also features on the album cover) sprinting&nbsp; towards the camera, creating its own tracks in the dirt.&nbsp;The video may be brief, but it leaves a powerful impression. The enigmatic atmosphere creates&nbsp;plenty of mystery around the new track.&nbsp;

Rollo Jackson

Ana Castellar

Geras Velikhanyan

Fraser Rigg

Harutyun Gevorgyan

Alexey Komoza

Gevorg Elmasakyan

Gamlet Galstyan

Steve Shaw

Trim Editing

Luke Morrison

Oscar Wendt

XL Recordings

Electric Theatre Collective

Dance

Overmono 'Is U?' by Rollo Jackson

Overmono-'Is-U?'-by-Rollo-Jackson

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…

The Weeknd is trapped in an emotional purgatory, in the Cliqua-directed promo for Is There Someone Else.&nbsp;Drenched in 1980s movie influences, the&nbsp;wonderfully cinematic video sees the artist reliving a memory of a time spent with a mysterious love interest, visualised through sultry choreography and an enigmatic, abstract concept.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]Exploring the idea of voyeurism - and taking its stylistic lead from archetypal Eighties fare by Brian DePalma and Adrian Lyne -&nbsp;the use of a masked version of The Weeknd&nbsp;suggests a doppelganger watching from afar, trapped in a loop of paranoia as he stares through a telescope.&nbsp;Diving into surrealist fantasy scenes towards the end, it's another&nbsp;tour de force&nbsp;of creativity, that builds upon the Dawn FM era, with a contemporary film noir-style edge.[imgtoken data:2]&nbsp;

Luke Carr

Espirit Casting

Cliqua

Roisin Audrey Moloney

Michael Garcia

Nick Bupp

Josh Montes

Greg Karamov

Felipe Larrondo

Vinnie Bredemus

Marc Benacerraf

Erin Murray

Antonio Gomez-pan

Final Cut

Electronic

The Weeknd 'Is There Someone Else?' by Cliqua

The-Weeknd-'Is-There-Someone-Else?'-by-Cliqua

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

Ned Botwood

Lydia Martland

DOGEATDOG

Natalia Maus

Yan Murawski

Jamie Harding

Pòl Gil

Orlando Morris

Riccardo Angei

Molly Whiteley

Kevin Corry

The Assembly Rooms

Ruth Wardell

Okay Studios

Because Music

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

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

Vincent Haycock's richly atmospheric video for Maxo starts with the LA rapper's appearance on a street corner - and his gradual disappearance.That absorbing VFX-fired sequence precedes a more impressionistic foray into the world of Maxo and guest artist Pink Siifu. As always with Vincent Haycock this is masterfully done, and the black and white cinematography by Guillermo Garza is gorgeous.[imgtoken data:1] &nbsp;

Guillermo Garza

Iain Trimble

Terry Watson

Meredith Kurey

Bryan Escareno

Emily Shulmanovich

Zack Ramos-Taylor

Taylor Haycraft

Oscar Garcia

Nick Durr

Golden LA

Kevin Gallagher

Robin Roepstorff

Ovi Bogdon

Hip Hop

Maxo ft Pink Siifu '48' by Vincent Haycock

Maxo - 48 ft. Pink Siifu

The cycle of videos for Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd's current smash hit album Dawn FM takes a phenomenal turn into extraordinarily imaginative anime, courtesy of creative directors Cliqua and French animation director Jocelyn Charles.Following the Cliqua-directed video for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/04/13/weeknd-out-time-cliqua/75929" target="_blank">Out Of Time</a> - which ends with the singer drugged, in hospital, and having a mask applied to his face - the promo for How Do I Make You Love Me? begins with Tesfaye waking in a hospital bed wearing the mask, as an animated character. What proceeds is a brilliant 2D animation, greatly influenced by the style of Studio Gibli's Hayao Miyazaki - but somewhat darker...This is a brilliant showcase for the marvellous animation style of&nbsp;Jocelyn Charles, who co-directed&nbsp;the&nbsp;video for French artist L'Impératrice&nbsp;that won Best Animation at the UKMVAs last year. This takes her to the next level.

The Weeknd 'How Do I Make You Love Me?' by Jocelyn Charles

Somesuch

Production Company

Featured Work