Research and Planning: Music Video

My Track

SBTRKT - KYOTO, From the Transitions EP.

Analyzing the Track

The track itself is very moody feeling, the deep bassline helps to achieve this, as the beat kicks in it still feels slow and has a serene sounds-cape feel, the synth used in it sounds Japanese, hence the name of the track 'Kyoto' which is an old capital of Japan. The track doesn't include any lyrics but I believe it still manages to achieve what the artist has set out to achieve. 

This image is of Kyoto the Japanese City.

The Artist

SBTRKT (pronounced Subtract) is a masked electronic, post-dubstep and indie-pop artist from the UK. SBTRKT consists of Aaron Jerome, he has collaborated with multiple other artists mainly including 'Sampha'. SBTRKT has released Two albums and multiple EP's.

This is a photo of Sampha, a regular collaborator of SBTRKT 

Clothing and Costumes

SBTRKT usually wears a plain t-shirt ad jeans, but during all live performances and music videos he wears tribal masks like the ones below. Other artists have also experimented with wearing masks such as 'Deadmau5' and 'Daft Punk'. No one really knows why he wears a mask but it could be to hide his identity or simply just an image he is trying to create. 

     

SBTRKT performing in his mask for a Boiler Room set:

Existing Media

Most of SBTRKT's work is very similar, it all has a surreal and unrealistic feel to it, he has experimented with different types of music, some include vocals with beats when others are just complete instrumental. The music videos are usually very strange as well, he has also had forms of animation for them. SBTRKT has recently released an interactive website with all sorts of media, music and release dates. 

Link to SBTRKT: http://sbtrkt.com/home/

Examples of SBTRKT's music videos:

Music Video Idea

My music video idea is based around Japanese themes, due to the fact that the song name is named after Japan's old capital 'Kyoto', I will also include cherry blossom trees in some of my shots because this is also Japanese. 

It is going to be based around a masked character, i thought of this idea because the artist whose song I chose also wears a mask in all of his performances. It is going to have a surreal feel to it and to achieve this I am not going to use a narrative. My character will be dressed in a plain hooded jumper and a plain balaclava, I am still unsure on the colors of these. 

I want to achieve the surreal feel to my music video by using effects from premiere pro or after affects. I have seen a couple of music videos with effects I would like to involve in my music video.

This 3D effect would work nicely with my surreal theme.

(Taken from Kendrick Lamar's Look Out For Detox music video)

  

Some of the color effects on this LSD:Bad Trip video I think would work well.

For some shots in my music video I was planning to use slow-motion to see some objects to be dropped or just to slow down certain parts. Below is a video literally just showing some objects being dropped and how it would look.

The main problem I was worried about is that the slow motion would ruin the quality of the video, so to make sure that the quality of the slow motion on the cameras I was using was good enough I did some test shots by pushing a chair and watching someone beat box.

My character is a masked character, I am trying to stick to SBTRKT's theme with this. I am using a black balaclava and also a black hooded jumper.
Below is a screenshot from the website I ordered my hoodie from.

Music Video Forms, Conventions and Techniques

In and 'as live' footage:

This example of music videos shows the band or artist during a live performance, editing different shots from different cameras and a variation of the artists live shows make these videos more exciting instead of the entire performance being shot from one camera

My example of this is 'Lithium by Nirvana':

Narrative and Interpretive:

Narrative music videos have a story to follow and can also have a relation to the song name or lyrics in the video. Fr example the video I chose by 'Sum 41' (In too deep) the band are at a swimming pool competing in a diving competition against professional divers, the song is also called In too deep which relates to the water. 

My example of narrative is 'In Too Deep by Sum 41':

Surrealist and Absurbist:

These sort of music videos usually include surprising or unconventional things. they may also include tings which are not possible, for example in the music video I chose (Eminem - Not Afraid) the artist begins to fly which is impossible for a human to do independently.

My example of Surrealist and Absurbist is 'Not Afraid by Eminem': 

Impressionist:

In these types of music videos the artists try to catch the emotional side of the song instead of the emotions of the lyrics. There was a movement in the 19th century which was similair  to this type of work called 'impressionism' this type of art focused on how the world made the artist feel instead of capturing the world itself.

My example of an impressionist music video is You're Beautiful by James Blunt: 

Intertextual; Synergy, Allusion, Pastiche, Parody and Homage:

These types of music videos reference to other subjects, soundtrack videos usually have references or clips from the film which is also known as synergy. They can also reference to other types of media texts, events or about a person. A Pastiche is a light hearted take on certain style used by another artist. Parody's are actual takes of another artist work not just the style.

My example of synergy is 'We Own It by 2 Chainz and Wiz Khalifa' originaly from Fast anf Furious.

My example of a parody would be 'White and Nerdy by Weird Al Yankovic' which is a parody of 'Chamillionaire - Ridin''

My example of a pastiche would be 'Just Lose It by Eminem':

Animation; Stop Motion and Digital:

Animated music videos simply include animation, stop motion or digital animation, these could partly have animation or be fully animated

My example of an animated music video would be 'Ghost are Dancing of Home and Dry':

Lip-Synch:

Lip synch music videos are where the artist or an actor mimes the lyrics to a song, this is usually seen in all music videos where there are lyrics and performers.

My example of his is 'Yonkers by Tyler, The Creator'

Editing:

Good editing techniques can make music videos look alot better, interesting transitions and post production effects are all included in editing.

I chose Rap God by Eminem as my example as it won best editing in the MTV editing awards of 2015. 

Cutting to the beat:

Cutting to the beat is where the transitions are made when certains beats kick in, or as a drum hits, this can be an effective way of making the music video more interesting and helping to establish the rhythm. 

My example of this is 'Lose Control by Keri Hilson ft. Nelly'

Camera Movements:

This includes stuff such as panning shots, long shots, crabbing shots etc. this can create a more exiting experience for the audience because there is more going on,it can also make it feel like a feature film.

My example of good camera movement is:

Split screen:

This is where part of , or the entire music video is split up into two or more screens.

My example of this is Yu by Mellow High: