Nina Stakz – Memphis Flyer

For our final Music Video Monday of 2015, I’m counting down the ten best videos of a fantastic year of collaboration between Memphis filmmakers and musicians.

I’m not usually one for lists, but hey, it’s the end of the year, so why not? This Top Ten list has13 entries, which just shows you how bad I am at this whole list thing. So here it is, the best Memphis music videos of 2015, arbitrarily chosen and ranked by me:

10. (tie) “If You Want It” – Black Rock Revival / “Lucky Or Strong” by Caleb Sweazy

Two Memphis acts created fight themed videos this year. Black Rock Revival mixed it up in the squared circle with director Nina Stakz.

Music Video Monday: Top 10 of 2015

Caleb Sweazy directed his own video, took one on the chin, then got up and kept going.

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9. “Ocean” – Nick Black

In Destyn Patera’s video, all Nick Black wants is a drink of water.

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8. “Rock On” – Muck Sticky

The Sticky Muck self directed this psychedelic ode to friendship.

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7. (tie) “Black Tux” – Marco Pavé / “Systemic Collapse” – Stephen Chopek

Director Drew Fleming and rapper Maco Pavé commented on consumerism.

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Stephen Chopek self-directed this surreal tour of the decline and fall.

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6. (tie) “You’re The One” – Deering and Down / “Cosmophobia” – Arella Rocket

Director Matteo Servente and video artist Christopher Reyes teamed up to create a dreamy clip for Deering and Down.

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Arella Rocket teamed up with filmmaker Michael Norris for this dream hop trip.

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5. “So Addicted” – Tina Harris

Laura Jean Hocking created a lyric video to bring the former Sweetbox singer’s hit single to life.

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4. “We Rewind” – Marcella and Her Lovers

Edward Valibus, Ben Rednour, and Erik Morrison of Corduroy Wednesday took Marcella to Molly Fontaine’s for this stylish clip.

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3. “The Straight Liberace” – Lord T. and Eloise

As with most things created by the time-travelling aristocrunks, this clip will have you asking where parody ends and actual decadence begins. Then you just won’t care.

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2. “cicada 3301” – Rick and Roy

Charlie “the city mouse” Fasano’s animated captures the spirit of Rick & Roy’s experimental soundscapes.

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1. “Let The Little Things Go” – Vending Machine

For his latest entry in his solo project Vending Machine, Robby Grant enlisted some of the best directors in Memphis to create music videos. The best of the bunch, and the best Memphis music video of 2015, is this clip created by G. B. Shannon, with cinematographic help from Ryan Earl Parker and Edward Valibus, and ace editing by Ben Rednour.

VENDING MACHINE "Let The Little Things Go" Music Video from GB Shannon on Vimeo.

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Thanks to everyone who submitted videos for Music Video Monday. If you want to get in on this action in 2016, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.

“The song is simple if you want it, take it. Freedom, quality of life, and the right to express yourself,” says Black Rock Revival’s Sebastian Banks. “What could better express the push and pull of life than a wrestler?”

This clip for the band’s new single, “If You Want It”, produced by Banks and helmed by Atlanta-based director Nina Stakz, combines some hardcore wrestling action with moodily lit performance footage.

“We shoot this in a one-day, 10-hour shoot,” Banks says. “The planning was key, with storyboards, fight choreography, and locations. We also where going for things we don’t usually see, an all-Black cast for a hard rock video. The action had to match the speed and intensity of the guitars and commanding vocal. Hopefully we made something MTV worthy and Memphis strong.”

Music Video Monday: Black Rock Revivial

If you have a music video you would like to see featured on Music Video Monday, email a link to cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.