Music Video Planning // Final Song Choice

Following the research into possible artists, discussion with fellow members of the group and lastly my groups accepted song proposal to our tutor, I have finally decided on a track to be used for our final production! The song was explored previously in my other post where I evaluated difference choices and I've finally decided that 'Supercell' by the band Gallery Circus is the song I am going to use in the production of my music video and Digipak.

Case Study // Africa Shox (Chris Cunningham)

Leftield/Bambaataa - 'Afrika Shox'

(Director: Chris Cunningham)

'Afrika Shox' is a short music video directed by Chris Cunningham for the song of the same name by Electronica act Leftfield/Bambaataa. The song is a collaboration between British electronica act Leftfield and American Hip Hop artist Afrika Bambaataa, of 'Planet Rock' fame. 'Afrika Shox' is an IDM/Hip-Hop track with some world music influence and this is reflected in the video, directed by Chris Cunningham, a common collaborator with IDM stalwart Aphex Twin. 

Music Video Research // Andrew Goodwin's 6 Features of Music Videos

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.
   (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).    [this is also known as iconography]
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images.
   (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
3. There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music.
   (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).
5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
6. There are often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).

Music Video Planning // Possible Unsigned Tracks

Before I could start planning any music videos, first I would need to find possible tracks and artists to make the videos for. In order to avoid any clashes with copyright that could potentially jeopardise it's production and to ensure that the band may be helped by the creation of promotional material, any tracks and artists would have to be unsigned and reasonably underground. After some research, I found these possibilities.

1.Vanilla

The first unsigned artist that I have been considering is an instrumental Hip-Hop Producer called Vanilla. They mainly make soul and funk inspired instrumentals which have considerable scope for the production of a music video, as they are well produced and engaging. One downside of this artist is the fact that they are anonymous, and will not be available to appear in a video. However this is not too much of an issue as identity is not massively important in the instrumental hip hop genre (with some exceptions of course).

All of the tracks are well produced, smooth and of a high quality, which is promising for the production of a high quality music video. The fact Vanilla's tracks mainly lack lyrics could be either a blessing or a curse as they neither provide inspiration for the video nor constrain possible themes and ideas. There are some tracks that have small vocal snippets, but are not fully developed lyrically. These may be the best to use as they provide some focal point and appeal more directly to the audience. Possible tracks include:

More after the Jump