ATX Art Beat • April 2022
Putting melodies in motion — Giving flight to a feeling — Lending voice to a vision
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For this month’s edition, I thought I’d switch things up and write about a kind of art that doesn’t always get its due: music videos.
There’s something so compelling about artists who work across multiple modes of expression. Music on its own can be incredibly transportive, but even more so with immersive visuals. Music videos give artists the creative license to take their audience on a journey — to the past, future, or maybe somewhere that exists only in their dreams. They paint vivid scenes to add color and texture to the soundscape, layering in a whole range of nuance and emotion.
A few years ago, I found myself needing a respite from the sweltering New York City streets and finally found a sweet A/C’ed oasis — the New Museum on the Lower East Side.
Turns out, my heat-induced delirium had me perfectly primed for the experience to follow. The featured exhibition “Shadow Play” was by none other than Kahlil Joseph, filmmaker extraordinaire. His list of collaborators includes some of the most revered artists of our time — Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and FKA Twigs. Kahlil Joseph’s style is highly signature — rather than set choreographies and linear storylines, he crafts his surreal visions around ephemeral moments and revelries of the everyday.
From the early days of YouTube and MTV, I’ve always had this sense that music videos are the closest thing to pure imagination. Kind of like the hazy lucid dreams that emerge when you’re half awake, drum beats synced perfectly to the fluttering of your eyes, twinkling birdsong outside your window like a Vivaldi concerto, the sprawling willow tree dancing like fingers on a fret board. You find yourself moving through a scene moment-by-moment, but somehow suspended in time like Alice in Wonderland, on a leisurely freefall through the artist’s mind. As art critic Jerry Saltz put it, “Art is a way of showing the outside world what your inside world is like.”
You needn’t go far to experience the inner worlds of this month’s featured artists — but I sure hope you’ll accept the invitation.
“Funkentology” by BLK ODYSSY
2021 — Directed by Rashad White
Watch on YouTube or Listen on Spotify
BLK ODYSSY lives rent free in my mind. They’ve got that wickedly addictive blend of funk and soul, a salty-sweet balance that keeps you coming back for more.
I keep an eye out for rising talents who have a healthy disregard for genre, so when I heard about BLK ODYSSY’s album release show at The Parish last summer, I immediately snagged tickets. Originally hailing from New Jersey, frontman Sam Houston is massively talented, but found himself feeling stifled by the local music scene. The pandemic gave him a chance to take a step back and reflect, forge a tight-knit circle of musical minds, and gain new clarity on the kind of sound he wanted for the stories he had to tell. And let me tell you, their debut project BLK VINTAGE is an absolute masterpiece.
Don’t sleep. Or maybe do, and put this album on in the background to see where inception takes you.
“Hurt” by Tribe Mafia feat. Rora Wilde
Drops 4/20 — Directed by Jess T. Johnson
In the age of instant gratification, we’ve forgotten the joy of butterflies — that anxious-excited kind of anticipation for things worth waiting for. I couldn’t be more excited about this upcoming release from dynamic local duo Tribe Mafia, featuring LA-based songstress Rora Wilde.
Richly lyrical with a driving dancehall beat, graced by Rora’s velveteen vocals — this song is a whole mood. It’s cinematic off the page, telling the story of someone hurt in love, confronting fear and frustration to find her own way forward. A big part of Tribe’s philosophy is lifting each other up, taking care of their own. With this latest song, they saw an opportunity for bigger impact, so a portion of music sales from “Hurt” will be donated to organizations supporting survivors of assault and domestic violence.
Shot in Los Angeles and directed by multitalented maestro Jess T. Johnson — the video promises plenty of scenic backdrops, it’s-a-movie moments at the beach, and rich character development by Rora Wilde, Chinasa Broxton, Dashawn Daniels, and a whole cast of characters. Can’t wait to see how they bring this to life on screen.
“Always On My Mind” by Nané
2019 — Directed by Rebecca Mendoza
Watch on YouTube or Listen on Spotify
I first met Daniel Sahad in 2019, at the time he was working as a videographer but on the precipice of launching his latest brainchild — a rhythm and blues rock band called Nané, borrowing his childhood nickname as a first-gen Texan with roots in the DR.
One of their first big shows was opening for the Black Pumas at Mohawk. A hush fell over the crowd as Daniel stepped forward, his crown of curls backlit by a halo of stage lights. His dimpled grin broke into a soulful croon, where he was then joined by Ian Green strumming vibrant guitar chords, JaRon Marshall witstful on the keys, Scott McIntyre keeping center on the bass, and Brady Knippa with a graceful touch on the drums. As the beat picked up, we went from swaying to swinging, and Daniel’s voice crescendoed, soaring over the crowd and into the Austin night sky. From that moment on, he had a place among the stars.
Nané has built an incredible legacy since then — as a Black Fret sponsored band, they’ve toured across the country and won over fans with their unique sound and energetic performances, created a series of stunningly cinematic visuals, and in just a few years time, become the pride and joy of the Austin community. So in this moment, we’re feeling the sting with equal and opposite force.
Earlier this week, news broke that Daniel had passed away at the tender age of 29. He touched so many of us in this community, through his shows and collaborations, and honestly just by being himself. The way Daniel lived gave all of us permission to do the same, to go boldly in the direction of our dreams. His passion burned so brightly, I swear he could be a sun in his own universe.
In his honor, and in solidarity with the band, I wanted to round out my recommendations by sharing their first ever music video “Always on my Mind.” Whether you’re out on the town or just in your living room, I hope this tune will have you out on the dancefloor — celebrating a brilliant soul gone too soon.
But when we’re out on the floor
You’ve got me begging for more
Make it rain, make it pour
Let it rip, let it roar!
