To create a promotional reels, when my sister told me to give what my latest music video is accomplishing in 3 pointers, I wrote this:
What if: (Watch that Reel here)
- We packaged Carnatic into Cinematic music
- Blend music, dance & painting
- And wrapped all that in a storyline to convey a message
That is exactly what my latest music video is. It seems very simple, but it took almost 2 months to plan & execute it, and not to mention that this project’s idea was born on 24th November 2022, that is, I had this idea for almost a year now. The majority of that time was wasted not knowing what to do or even if executing this project was possible for me.
Initially, it was just a bunch of voice notes on OneNote.
Then, I didn’t even care to proceed with and do something with it as I thought it was not that good of an idea or sufficient enough. What I mean by that is that, by then I was fed up with good. And I was also not happy about the low amount of reach my work got till then. So, I was looking for a solution to solve this. Obviously, the solution I always knew but failed at executing was to make greater work so that fewer people would choose to not care about it. But how?
Then after a few weeks or months maybe, I gathered some motivation and decided to just put those voice notes onto my DAW, that is, convert those ugly sounding voice notes into MIDI (piano) notes. After I did that, by that week, I received an idea. That idea was a storyline with a theme of “desaturation to Color”, Slow to fast, and to package this music as a short-film type music video with that story.
That idea itself became a demotivator for me because it was asking too much from me, it became overwhelming and felt impossible. So I abandoned working on that project for another long stretch. Then I made the move by sharing the idea with my friend Sai Vamshi. He showed genuine interest and things began to manifest.
From then on, it was all about scheduling, planning, and getting into the flow state. Especially, the session where we completed the music track was so awesome! Editing the video was like a breeze because by then I had written a timestamp-wise screenplay for the same, which was really useful, as I could focus on the story even better through the second edit, making complicated frames, color grading, etc.
Anyway, I’ve always been striving to make my projects not just another clean rendition of a music piece. The motto and the struggle have always been to make it engaging enough for anyone who comes across my videos. Either it be through original compositions, collaborating and/or trying different combinations of arrangements of instruments, or upscaling video filming and editing quality. Basically, I was experimenting and learning each time I worked on a music video. I can gratefully say that almost all of my music videos are one of a kind!
But out of all, this time I can say, it has been the most unique project I’ve ever worked on. Why? Like any other project, I execute based on what I’d have learned from the previous project, but mainly this time, I’ve inculcated all that I’ve learned into this project. Or at least I tried to. In simple words, Perspective, People, and Purpose have aligned really well!
And I cannot, not mention how grateful I am to friends who support me by becoming a part of even the most ridiculous ideas I choose to work on.
This project was my one little step towards that vision: “The best of all art forms meet to give one masterpiece!“
But I’m writing this blog not just to share all about my latest project, but also to emphasize the message I’m trying to convey through that video.
Through PRECEDENCE, a visually captivating narrative, we take you on a journey from the depths of dread and stagnation to the vibrant world of inspiration and creativity. As we discussed in Blog 50: Are you a cog in the machine? , Blog75: Tragic Drama | The Screwed System, and in Blog 106: Redesign Your Life!, this system is screwed! And this project tries to convey that to protect our bodies and minds and live healthily and fulfilled, one can choose art!
The protagonist, like many people nowadays, is trapped in the hustle and bustle of city life, of relentless grind, meeting demands of the day, battling stress, and being enslaved under technology’s grip. But then, he awakens from this monotonous existence. And it’s magical to see when someone guided by the artistic flame within sets to embark on a new artistic adventure. With every brushstroke, the canvas comes to life, and so does our protagonist, every brushstroke gives him solace.
PRECEDENCE is a reminder that art has the power to heal, inspire, and breathe life into our souls, even in the darkest moments. It’s a testament to the universal nature of the artistic cycle, where we all experience moments of despair and find solace and inspiration through artistic expression. And PRECEDENCE is a heartfelt invitation to explore the world of art and creativity.
Precedence means Priority. And the message here is to embrace the artist within & express yourself! And by doing that, breathe Life into You. And then, Breathe Life again! Again and Again!
Life happens anyway. You may find a billion reasons to stop making or not start making art, but Let art take precedence over daily life’s struggles, worries, and stress.
You might think or argue that it is not that simple for your particular situation. But I can affirm strongly, yet politely that yes it is that simple! The process of prioritizing itself exists to simplify, right? If one is unable to make time or has not got enough motivation to, or any other reason you can come up with, to not make art, then it simply means there’s something else on top of making art on your list. Maybe making that change in priority is hard for you, I’m not denying that. But if done, then onwards, it’s very simple actually. It’s just some aspects that are on your list have inflated in perceived value, which is hence influencing you to perceive making this change as impossible.
Whether you’re an artist or not, through this blog and video, I hope to inspire you to pick up that brush, pencil, musical instrument, or any creative tool and embark on your own journey of fulfillment and if you’re already doing it, keep doing it. Essentially, choose art, and prioritize art. Again and again. It has all the power.
If you haven’t yet, please watch PRECEDENCE, and let me know your thoughts in the comments section.
Join us in celebrating the transformative power of art on the human spirit. Thank you for reading and watching! Please LIKE & SHARE it with your friends and let the colors of inspiration wash over them too. It’s time to brush off despair and embrace the canvas of life on a mega scale.
Thank You
Sanath Kumar Naibhi
