04 Jan BLAKE MORGAN RELEASES HYPNOTIC NEW VIDEO
“Maverick recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Blake Morgan’s studio chops, smart lyrics, and gift for the melodic twist have earned him a loyal critical and commercial following.”
—All Music Guide
Last month, acclaimed artist Blake Morgan, released “Down Below or Up Above,” the first single from his forthcoming album, Violent Delights.
Not only did Morgan produce, record, mix, and master “Down Below or Up Above,” he also played every instrument on the track – except the drum kit, which was played by NYC luminary, Miles East.
For the song’s video, Morgan enlisted another luminary, NYC artist and filmmaker Alice Teeple. The video pays homage to classic Hollywood noir films.
“It’s like if Gene Kelly had starred in ‘The Third Man,’” shares Morgan, with a chuckle.
“We shot in Central Park at night, so I’m lit only by moonlight, streetlamps, and a couple of flashlights when needed. Within ten minutes of shooting, we were wonderfully unsure of what century we were in.”
Teeple and Morgan’s shared love of 1930’s and 40’s film noir––and specifically the work of directors Orson Welles and Fritz Lang ––gave birth to the idea for the video.
“Alice is a remarkable artist, says Morgan. “She combines film techniques from ages ago and today, seamlessly. We looked at some of the videos Anton Corbijn’s made with Tom Waits which also have that feeling. We wanted something striking, something beautiful, but also something provocative and playful.”
Morgan – a New York native – boasts an unprecedented six-year run of sold-out concerts at the city’s famed Rockwood Music Hall, fueling an extraordinary string of headlining performances for the artist around the globe. Since 2016, Morgan has sold out concerts throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe. His Rockwood concerts regularly feature unique on-stage collaborations with Grammy and Tony Award-winning special guests.
In the studio, Morgan has recorded and produced for some music’s brightest talent, from Lenny Kravitz to Lesley Gore. He is also the founder and President of independent global-music company ECR Music Group. Morgan’s ideas, opinions, and editorials on music have been published regularly by The New York Times, Billboard Magazine, CNN, Newsweek, Variety, NME, The Hill, The Huffington Post, and The Guardian.
Violent Delights officially drops on May 20, 2022 via ECR.