Here is the new video for ‘I Never Woke Up’ from the most recent Snailhouse record, Sentimental Gentleman: http://youtu.be/Ijy7kszdxI0

The song’s vivid dreamscape has been eerily and beautifully extended into the visual realm by co-directors Jared Raab and Lindsay MacKay.

There is a new record from Snailhouse’s Michael Feuerstack on the way for May 2013. Entitled ‘Tambourine Death Bed’, this will be Michael’s 1st record under his own name.

In anticipation of TDB, here’s a chance to get up to date with the Snailhouse catalogue. All Snailhouse titles (mail order and download) are on mega-sale this winter through the Snailhouse Bandcamp page. Stop by and browse!

ABOUT THE VIDEO

The concept for the video came mostly out of inspiration drawn from visual artists. Jared and Lindsay were visiting her current home in Los Angeles, and came across a book of work by artist John Stezaker. His photo collages, which replace human faces with faded, postcard landscapes sparked the initial seed of an idea.

Lindsay: “We imagined a faceless character trapped in a state of in-between, who wanders in a surreal landscape, never waking up out of his dream. Though at the time, I’m not sure it rhymed like that. I’d have to check the e-mails.”

Jared: “Michael (Snailhouse) had already contacted us about doing a video, and we managed to pull the shoot together really fast. We based the shoot on a two-day road trip into the desert around Joshua Tree National Park, with cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski.”

Then the heads were laboriously painted out, frame by frame. Lindsay: “We did all the effects ourselves and Jared had to paint his own head off digitally for hours on end. I think he nearly lost his actual mind doing it.”

Jared: “In some kind of life-imitating art nightmare, I started to dream about the images in the video. I’m not kidding.”

The Design and Look:

The song lent itself to the the surreal dream-like quality of faded post-cards and sun-bleached photos that became the references points for the look and quality of the video. The landscape of the California desert provided the perfect pallet, with its beautiful sunsets and muted colours.

The geometric shapes came out of some further research we did into collage artists like Brion Nuda Rosch and Liam Wylie, along with conversations we had with our editor Nadia Tan who is herself an amazing designer.

Michael: “Everyone involved in the making of this visual depiction of the song have worked beautifully to create a piece that harmonizes perfectly – it brings the imagery within the song to a new place. I love it when a collaboration spins things in a unique and unexpected way.”

michaelfeuerstack.com // snailhousemusic.com