Having grown up in a pre-YouTube era and gone through film school many moons ago, I've always appreciated music videos that served as more than just promotional material for an artist or band. Music videos are, after all, short films, and a place in which more experimental and artistic visual and storytelling techniques can be presented to the public in a form that they are at least somewhat likely to consume.
Filmed between L.A., Shanghai, Romania, Iceland and Norway, the music video for Kaada's "Farewell" from his 2018 Closing Statements album certainly stands as something more than a promotional exercise. Video director Christian Holm-Glad's visuals interact with the already haunting music to create, for me anyway, an aesthetically stunning piece and poignant reflection on the alienating effects of modern communication and life in general. Heavy? Yes, but ultimately, strangely hopeful.
Says Kaada: “The 'Farewell' music video wraps up much of what I wanted to say with the Closing Statements album. All of those tracks were very personal to me and are snapshots of my life, in one way or another. About different things I've said goodbye to. These days truth is hard to find amidst the din and chaos of a world that seems to be spinning ever faster towards madness. The video is about different people saying goodbye to major things.”
Video director Holm-Glad has this to say in relation to the project: "As people, we are scared to make changes. We are afraid of being alone. We are afraid of not making money, so we do the same routines every day. We are risk adverse, but when you dare to do something else, it is often the best decision in life."
Be adventurous and take a chance on the "Farewell" music video below. Closing Statements can be found on the Mirakel Recordings label.
