Alongside an intriguing music video with direction by multimedia collective, Crack Cloud.
The more we inch closer to the arrival of the next Black Marble chapter, Fast Idol (October 22nd, Sacred Bones Records), the more we become aware of the profound intentionality placed upon every aspect of the release. From every tender lyric to every synth laden texture, Chris Stewart's Black Marble has aptly set the stage for Fast Idol through a meticulous selection of singles that showcase the breadth lying within the musician's sonic palette. Today's new single Preoccupation treads down a more mellow path than that of its predecessors with a rhythmic percussion that sparks a slow swaying of the head while Stewart's reverberating vocals lead the way. This same charm is reflected onto the track's accompanying, Crack Cloud-directed music video, which successfully the captures the genuineness of collaboration. Though we're past the golden era of MTV and the myriad of quality music videos that were shared on the daily, Black Marble and Crack Cloud prove that true artistry is still there.
Chris Stewart comments on Preoccupation:
“A kind of revolutionary spirit but back to nature post apocalyptic motif is what ‘Preoccupation’ is about. Sort of a return to barbarism, reclamation by nature over the state and the protagonists are observers of this going on and narrating it from an anthropological point of view...So anything that hints at these motifs but in your own way. "What is on the way?" is just questioning what is coming specifically but knowing what's coming generally. I counted twice 1,2,3,4, but I reversed it, so it's counting down - or counting up rather, but in reverse.”
Crack Cloud adds:
“‘What is on the way? is one of several thematic motifs in Black Marble’s ‘Preoccupation’ that grabbed our attention. Our world in recent years has been frozen in ambiguity, but from the perspective of an artist- such uncertainty goes hand in hand with the territory. The timing of this production felt like the end of a deep thaw; an invitation to start from square one. We entertained various concepts involving an observer and their connection to a shapeshifting world, but the excitement and shakiness of our own lives and as a group felt more tangible than any fiction we could commit to paper.
We contemplated our own creative process; what is the main motivating factor behind why we make art? In some sense it’s a means of creating a common ground or language to unite us. A sense of community and playfulness in all of life’s volatility. It’s this very essence that we sought to realize in our visual interpretation of the song.
The creative process for us is always clumsy, emotionally and in execution. Our storyboards are often half-baked and riffing off an idealistic notion rather than anything concrete. We wanted to share with the viewer as candidly as possible what this process looks like.
As day dreamers that wear our hearts on our sleeves, we made this video as a love letter to all artists, and the eternal optimism that they represent by nature of their own preoccupation.”
Experience Preoccupation below and pre-order your copy of the record HERE.
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