Charles Hamilton
It’s Ahead of the Curve week! If you’re following me on Twitter, you might have done a little research on the mtvU site already, but for those of you who don’t know here’s the scoop. While down at SXSW our fine Promos team (hi guys!) snagged some major up-and-comers on the scene and managed to talk them into recording special sessions for our channel. Some of the footage you see here might be previously unreleased, some you might be familiar with, some might introduce you to a phenomenal band you will come to grow and love. Whatever the case, we hope you enjoy. We’ll be releasing a group every day this week so be sure to tune in tomorrow for more sneak peeks. Here’s my rundown for Monday:
I love Chairlift and Caroline Polachek’s voice is pretty sublime which is why it would have been exceptionally easy to make her the focal point of this shoot. Her voice has the unique ability to capture both woman and young girl in a single note. The way she vacillates between both is pure talent. That being said, nothing delights me more than when the focus is shifted to members other than the lead singer. It jars us out of our comfort zone and reminds us that we’re attracted to the sum of parts rather than the lead voice alone. It’s especially interesting to watch Aaron Pfenning take control of this one while Patrick Wemberly concentrates on delivering a soft touch. As always, Ahead of the Curve sets tend to be pretty raw and bare, concentrating solely on the artists. I like how we’re allowed to see the track for the camera here because it feels even more intimate and behind-the-scenes.
3OH!3 is not generally a band that is on my radar, but that being said this version of “Don’t Trust Me” has me rethinking my stance. It highlights the fact that they possess a great deal of vocal talent and shows a depth of emotion I haven’t seen previously from them. I love how the video has a sort of an old abandoned attic feel to it.
Oh Ida Maria. Is she sexy or is she sexy? I have a total girl crush. If I were Christian Siriano/Tyra Banks I would say that she’s fierce. It’s not often you will find a female singer who is brave enough to vocalize her sexuality. This woman is not singing about love. She is singing about need, pure and simple. She just puts it all out there on the table and it’s ultimately why she earns my respect. She’s got courage. And the way she growls into the microphone is hot. The video manages to capture how much energy she brings to her music and stage-presence by letting her do what she does best: go nuts.
Charles Hamilton… little bit cheeky is he not? I’ve been following Charles for a while because he seems to be joining a legion of hip-hop artists who really understand new media and are taking full advantage. I like his blog, when he tones down on his bravado a bit, and I was obsessed with “Sonic the Hedgehog” as a child so we have that in common. I also like the intensely laid back quality of his voice, like he could be rapping this to you right now or he could just as soon walk away. It’s cocky but it works for him. This video undoubtedly captures his presence perfectly by giving him what he enjoys best- close shots where all the focus is directly on him.
Peter Bjorn & John are probably one of the more well-known artists in our group this year so I like how they were given a larger, flashier set to contend with. They have a more experienced, cultivated stage persona so they easily fill it without letting it overwhelm them. This song is a bit grittier than the classic favorite “Young Folks” but yet they still manage to make me smile. I’m not sure if that is what they’re going for exactly, but none the less. I enjoy the gentle touch of the keyboard in contrast to the dark, heavy beat and it seems as though this is what the Ahead of the Curve crew had in mind by reflecting it perfectly in the surroundings.
Again just a reminder to tune in tomorrow for a new group of bands, check out the videos, and don’t forget to let me know what you think in the comments section below.
