Singer, songwriter and longtime friend of Music Video Monday Brennan Villines has a new single. “Ahead of Your Time.”
“This song is one of the most personal pieces I’ve ever composed,” says the pop maestro. “It’s an ode to my childhood and growing up confused about my queerness in a place that didn’t understand queerness. I didn’t have anyone to confide in or look up to and had to navigate life in a largely conservative and religious part of the world. I reference my early stages of rebellion, experimenting with drugs, smoking weed from apples, and listening to Neil Young with my best friend, Ben, all while trying to maintain the appearance of a moral Christian life I was raised with. I also touch on how lost and lonely I felt before coming out in my junior year of high school. It was an instant relief but created friction for a while with my family. One of the lines in the song is “your daddy loves you, just give it some time.” I hope that speaks to every queer person who has struggled in their familial relationships and who struggles with acceptance because now, I truly have a wonderful and loving relationship with both of my parents. Ultimately, this song is about reflecting on a beautiful and complicated nostalgia of my journey as a queer man.”
The video uses as its jumping off points one of the most iconic and loaded images in the history of popular music: the cover of Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 album Born the USA. Directing team Zac(h)ks inverted the flag to indicate distress, and put Villines and his steely jaw in front of it, along with a variety of special guests. “For the video, we decided to use a cast of LGBTQ folks holding up a photo of their younger selves. We wanted the video to be joyous and inspirational to those who are scared to come out in this world. Just over the past year, Tennessee has gotten wild with anti-lgbt legislation, drag bans etc. We chose to use an upside down American flag to represent the distress being caused in this country and to send the message to those conservative voices who preach about the value of freedom; are we really free if certain people don’t have the right to live their lives the way they want?”
If you would like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.
Has Monday got you feeling stabby? MVM is here for you.
Memphis pop maniac Brenden Villines is having an incredible year. First of all, he signed with Rockasaurus Records. Then, he appeared on the NBC talent show The Four, and made some big waves. Villines has an uncanny knack for picking a perfect cover song, like he did with Ozzy Ozborne’s “Crazy Train”. His rendition of “Wild Horses” at last year’s Gimme Shelter benefit for homeless charities brought the house down. National audiences got a taste of his interpretive talent with this piano rendition of The Proclaimers “500 Miles.”
Music Video Monday: Brennan Villines (2)
Last week, Villines released the first video from his upcoming EP “Make It Work”. The song is called “Better Than We’ve Ever Been,” and here’s what the artist has to say about it: “I wrote the song in 2016 after participating in a very historic Black Lives Matter march in Memphis, Tennessee, where I’m from. People from all walks of life coming together and insisting that enough is enough in regards to police brutality, racism, homophobia, transphobia, the list goes on. The country was also at the height of division in the wake of the upcoming presidential election. At the end of the day, everything is far from perfect, but we are better going through it together as a people.”
The video is directed by Andrew Trent Fleming and it’s a doozy. In a mood that we can all relate to, our hero struggles to get out of bed in the morning, knowing that he will be faced with a firehose of bad news.
Truth
Then, Villines appears as his new news alter ego Lan Jevinson.
Reporting live, baby!
After jovially running down a pedestrian with a car full of M-town’s finest dancers, Villines then brutally stabs a rando on the street, played by Jacob Wingfield, who doesn’t seem to mind the violence.
The best-natured reaction to a stabbing this reporter has ever witnessed.
Will Winfield survive? Will Villines be brought to justice for his crime spree, or will he lead us all in a joyful singalong? Find out in this dramatic installment of Music Video Monday.
Music Video Monday: Brennan Villines
If you feel up to joining Brennan on Music Video Monday with your own music video, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com
Dr. James Gholson leads Craig Brewer’s ‘Our Conductor – Artists Only Remix’
Let’s do this.
10. Kphonix “When It’s Tasty”
Director: Mitch Martin
What goes with disco better than lasers? Nothing.
Music Video Monday: Top 20 Memphis Music Videos of 2016 (Part 2)
9. Hormonal Imbalance “That Chick’s Boyfriend”
Director: Jamie Hall Rising Fyre Productions gives Susan Mayfield and Ivy Miller’s gross-out punk the no-holds-barred video they deserve. Not safe for work. Or life.
Music Video Monday: Top 20 Memphis Music Videos of 2016 (Part 2) (2)
8. “Our Conductor – Artists’ Only Remix” Director: Craig Brewer
When the Memphis Grizzlies hired Craig Brewer to make a promotional video to help persuade Mike Connelly to stay, he gathered an A team of Memphis talent, including producers Morgan Jon Fox and Erin Freeman, cinematographer Ryan Earl Parker, assistant director Sarah Fleming, Brandon Bell, and Firefly Grip and Electric. Prolific composer Jonathan Kirkscey was tapped to write an inspiring score, which would be performed by musicians from the Stax Music Academy and members of local orchestras, and the Grizzline drummers. Dancers from Collage Dance Collective, joined jookers from the Grit N’ Grind Squad.
After a shoot at the FedEx Forum, Editor Edward Valibus cut together a b-roll bed to lay the interviews on. His rough cut turned out to be one of the best music videos of the year.
Music Video Monday: Top 20 Memphis Music Videos of 2016 (Part 2) (3)
7. Brennan Villines “Crazy Train”
Director: Andrew Trent Fleming This unexpectedly poignant Ozzy cover was the second music video Villines and Fleming collaborated on this year, after the stark “Free”. Where that one was simple, this one goes big.
Music Video Monday: Top 20 Memphis Music Videos of 2016 (Part 2) (4)
6. Lisa Mac “Mr. Mystery” Director: Melissa Anderson Sweazy
There’s no secret to making a great music video. Just take a great song, a great dancer, a great location, and some crackerjack editing. All the elements came together brilliantly for Sweazy’s second entry in the countdown.
Music Video Monday: Top 20 Memphis Music Videos of 2016 (Part 2) (5)
5. Marco Pavé “Cake”
Director GB Shannon
Shannon used the WREC building as the main setting in his short film “Broke Dick Dog”, and he returns with a cadre of dancers and a stone cold banger from Pavé. Go get that cake.
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4. Chackerine “Memphis Beach”
Director: Ben Siler
This three minute epic keeps switching gears as it accelerates to a Jurassic punchline. Its sense of chaotic fun took the prize at the revived Indie Memphis music video category.
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3. Yo Gotti “Down In The DM”
Director: Yo Gotti
It was Yo Gotti’s year. The Memphis MC racked up a staggering 101 million views with this video, which features cameos from Cee-Lo Green, Machine Gun Kelley, YG, and DJ Khalid. The video must have worked, because the song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Music Video Monday: Top 20 Memphis Music Videos of 2016 (Part 2) (8)
2. John Kilzer & Kirk Whalum “Until We’re All Free”
Dir: Laura Jean Hocking
Two things brought “Until We’re All Free” to the list’s penultimate slot. First, it’s a perfect example of synergy between music and image, where both elements elevate each other. Second is the subtle narrative arc; Amurica photobooth owner Jamie Harmon selling false freedom seems suddenly prophetic. The social justice anthem struck a chord with viewers when it ran with the trailers at some Malco theaters this spring. The parade of cute kids helped, too.
Music Video Monday: Top 20 Memphis Music Videos of 2016 (Part 2) (9)
1. Don Lifted “Harbor Hall”
Director Lawrence Matthews
Matthews is a multi-tasker, combining visual art with hip hop in his live performances and controlling his videos. His two videos from his album Alero feature his beaten up domestic sedan as a character. Its the total artistic unity that puts “Harbor Hall” at the pinnacle of 2016 videos. Because my rules limited each musical artist to one video, Matthews’ 11-minute collaboration with filmmaker Kevin Brooks “It’s Your World” doesn’t appear on the list. I chose “Harbor Hall” because of its concision, but “It’s Your World” would have probably topped the list, too.
Here it is, Memphis, your Best Music Video of 2016:
Music Video Monday: Top 20 Memphis Music Videos of 2016 (Part 2) (10)
Keep those videos coming, artists and filmmakers! Tip me off about your upcoming music video with an email to cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.
Singer/songwriter Brennan Villines says he got the idea for the year’s most unlikely cover on the spur of the moment. “I was playing one of my regular gigs one night and about to wrap up when my friend Billy came in and I asked him what he wanted to hear.Jokingly, he says ‘You got any Ozzy?’ So I tried ‘Crazy Train,’ and as I finished the song I looked up and Billy just has this astonished look on his face. He told me, ‘You have to record that.’”
Record it he did, transforming the metal anthem into a ballad for a world gone mad. “I decided to go with my gut and really focus my artistry with this piece on influencing a positive message and bringing out those lyrics ‘learn how to love and forget how to hate,’”
The music video, directed by Andrew Trent Fleming, brings home the message by transposing images of Villines and dancers with scenes of protest and hope. If you’re feeling shocked and dislocated today, this song is for you.
Music Video Monday: Brennan Villines
If you would like to see your music video on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com
Day 2 of Indie Memphis continues the distinctly Memphis vibe set by The Invaders and the IndieGrant shorts bloc on day 1. Today, the focus is on music.
Sebastian Banks of Black Rock Revival in Verge
There are a lot of documentaries about Memphis music, but Verge is different in that it’s not a historical documentary. First time director Lakethan Mason set out to make a movie about seven musicians who are adding to Memphis’ musical legacy today. “The subjects were chosen by spending time with the music community,” Mason says. “We started off with about 13 individuals that we sought out from their social media presence. There were also artists I had known over my years as an artist manager that I wanted to capture. Of course, the film would have been six hours long if we’d gone with 13, so we narrowed it down to seven exceptional artists: Nick Black, Brennan Villines, Faith Evans Ruch, Kendell MacMahon and all the bands she’s been a part of, Black Rock Revival, Marco Pave, and Kia Johnson.”
Verge director Lakethan Mason
Verge follows the artists through performances and their day to day struggles to make it in the industry. “It’s not just about the music, it’s about what’s behind the music. We went behind the scenes and got to know these people. I wanted the world to know they’re more than just artists, they’re people, too.”
The most fascinating thing about Verge is the insights it gives into the depths of the musicians personalities that you don’t get to see from the audience, like Brennan Villines’ work for St. Jude, or Faith Evan Ruch’s nursing career. “What I was most impressed with, was that each of these individuals are creating their own path to success,” says Mason. “We often define success as, you’re going to be performing in front of hundreds of thousands of fans in arenas. But these people are defining their own success.”
Singer Nick Black performs in Verge
The film was produced with support from executive producer J.W. Gibson. “Verge is a homegrown project, from the artist to the filmmaker to the visionary,” says Mason. “There’s a tenacity of spirit that I see in Memphians. If they want to do it, they’re going to do it. We’re a maverick city. We’ve got the indie spirit. We do it our own way, but we don’t fit into a box. We don’t play well with the industry that wants to churn out sameness.”
