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This year, Anaïs Genevieve, the nonbinary girlfriend of Oregon-raised rap star Wynne, who played Marilyn Monroe, burned her wedding dress. Rapper Mal London searches for his missing date in an abandoned barn. Yes, we love the music videos Portlanders made this year.
A good video may put you into a group—and you then absorb what that group is all about. With enough thought, a visual accompaniment can explain, compound, and even enhance the meaning of a song. The Portland music community has released a ton of great material in 2023, and here are five of our favorites:
“Joe Morant” Wayne
Wynne has several impressive music videos out in 2023, including “What Will Comb Do?” and “High Bar,” but we just can’t stop playing this song and Vision is Some people like it hot Lead single “Jaw Morant”. Under the direction of acclaimed music video guru Riley Brown, Wayne played several distinct characters in the video and performed them all brilliantly, from a Catholic nun counting money, to a From the passionate women’s basketball coach to playing Marilyn Monroe in the iconic film. White dress look on subway grating.Wayne looks comfortable in every scene and seems to be showing off her newfound confidence – which, coincidentally, was the inspiration behind the entire EP – but in an interview later HG Wayne revealed that she was actually very nervous in front of the camera. After watching this video, we would never have imagined it!
“Body”, non-binary girlfriend
From Nonbinary Girlfriend’s remarkable debut feature, big and kindThe 7-minute magical blues of “Body” and the accompanying video feel like a major contribution to 2023. Through powerful imagery, the video profoundly depicts how the clothes we wear and the way we look change the way we feel about our bodies, sometimes in dramatic ways. The black-and-white music video charts frontman Anaïs Genevieve’s relationship with her body shape and her journey to find her true personal gender expression. The film opens with a chilling scene: Genevieve (they/them), wearing a restrictive wedding dress, singing in a painful whisper, being held by invisible hands. And then, when Genevieve burns the dress and discovers a more comfortable, authentic way of expressing her gender, the final moment feels like a relief, a joyful rebellion.
“Oops,” Mal London
Rapper Mal London’s music video for “Yikes” has an overall vibe; it’s simple, summery, tranquil, and showcases a mastery of light and style. Shot in scenic rural fields, the film follows Mal London on a picnic-style date with her love interest, played by model and actress Madisen Talton. As the two sip rosé and enjoy nature, Mal London continues to wax poetic in the rapper’s effete way: “I’ve got so many damn problems / Act like I miss you,” he Sing. After a while, his date got angry and walked away, and Mal went looking for her in the forest and even in an abandoned barn. After catching up with her, Tarleton spends the rest of the film brooding, nervously ripping the flowers from the bouquet and throwing each petal in Mal London’s direction. The video, co-directed by Caed Folkstad and Danté Ammon and shot and edited by Folkstad, feels both romantic and bitter.
“Dummy”, Portugal.man
Portuguese band from Alaska to Portland. The Man releases an album in 2023 produced by Jeff Bhasker chris black changed my life. The video for its first single, “Dummy,” was shot in Alaska, keeping in line with the project’s decidedly dark, eerie and melancholy tone. The video for “Dummy”, directed by Noel Paul, is the only real music video on the album, although we’d really like to see more visuals for “Heavy Games,” “Grim Generation” or “Thunderdome” effects, but this one is also simple and well done. In stark contrast to the song’s heavy themes dealing with the fear of death, “Dummy” features the band’s new honorary member and mascot Tank the Dog, comically walking around like a jerk against the stunning backdrop of the snow-covered Alaskan wilderness. Come and go. He’ll cause minor havoc, be dog sledred, stare at sea lions, hitchhike, and slap a car windshield with a big fish. He was ultimately defeated, and we’re still trying to parse what it all meant…but it resonated.
“IRL”, Jay Si Proof
We love celebrating vintage vibes!portland band Jay Si Proof’s joyful, quirky, fun music video for “IRL” from their 2023 album care about it, partially filmed on Broughton Beach in North Portland. Director Josh Rivera of Rollstar Productions creates a goofy, endlessly upbeat tone for the film: the band and a group of extras dance and roller-skate around the parking lot next to the M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp; they’re dressed in retro basketball gear Wandering around, failing miserably at ice cream, and socializing with a herd of goats. Honestly, it looks like a lot of work, but making the work look fun is very commendable.
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