In a new series to Firebrand Magazine I will be bringing to you these special articles on some of our favourite bands going behind the scenes of the making of new videos, new albums to give you an insight into the work involved when creating these great projects we all enjoy. First in line for our behind the scene’s treatment is the brilliant new video from Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham for “Kind To Be Cruel”. The video can be viewed from the button below
Steve Walker What attracted you to the project ? The project sounded a very interesting proposition when i was first told about it, straight away I thought ...yes let's make all these weird and wonderful ideas work but initially the only thing the project was lacking was a narrative of some sort,...and then i had a brainwave! A little bird tells me that the idea of the tramp in the video was all down to you ? Yes, that was my brainwave! funny but when Doris suggested Roger smartly dressed watching a surreal show through a pair of Opera glasses, I thought. No, let’s go to the opposite end of the spectrum and make him a tramp, let’s make the video a Dream sequence!? and film him asleep on a park bench and in different places at the venue watching the show, asleep, half awake and in various states of confusion. To be honest the tramp scenes worked far better than I thought, and you have to remember that the guy had never acted before, and yet in the video he looks like a pro actor, check the Scene of the tramp playing the piano, cracks me up that, cos he looks just like a ham fisted kid, classic stuff lol
What is the most important part of making a video in your eyes ? Difficult question, i would say having a Narrative, I love doing videos with Metaphors and Semiotics, anything that provokes thoughts really, as opposed to just throwing loads of images together that make no sense what so ever. Oh i nearly forgot of course you have to include some humour in the video somewhere lol
Lee Dunham Lee, you have worked with Doris for quite some time now but “Not Utopia” is your first “official” joint project. Tell me what is Doris like to work with ? Doris is a bit like playdoh to work with! Extremely fun, malleable, smells edible (although you can't eat her) comes in a range of colours, and makes beautiful musical shapes of just about everything!....... Oh! and she washes out of clothes without staining! After working together for so long you get to the point where nothing you can say can upset the other! Obviously I've learned to know what rubs her up the wrong way and avoid those topics/conversations unless, for fun, I'll do some "up the wrong way rubbing" just to start an argument. I do love a good row sometimes! lol Regarding the album, most of my time was spent in the studio producing the tracks alone so we only really worked together when she was putting her vocals down in the studio. The internet has changed things. We could send the files to each other to listen to and converse without being in the same room. As professional musos, when you are working there is not enough time to argue as the job in hand is paramount and takes up all conversation. Socially she is a great person to be around!
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Firebrand Magazine