Video: A-1 – “Summertime Sadness” prod. by Ryan Hemsworth
Bay Area Rapper Laments Summertime Tragedies in Film Noir Styled Video
11.12.2013
Critical Praise For A-1:
“A-1′s style has a similar kind of funny, free-for-all feel as post-Mac Dre rappers like [Roach] Gigz, but has a sly rap style that is distinctly his own.” – The FADER
“Easily one of the illest emcees I’ve heard over the last few years.” – OkayPlayer
One of Thizzler.com‘s 2012 Bay Area Freshmen 10
The Video:
Despite it being leather weather in most parts of the country, today, San Francisco-based rapper A-1 drops a visually stunning video for his recently released “Summertime Sadness,” produced by Canadian DJ and producer Ryan Hemsworth thanks to Stereogum who premiered the video. Earlier this year, A-1 came upon Hemsworth’s remix of Lana del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness” and was inspired to tell his story of past tragedies and a darker side of summer. A-1’s track explores themes of restlessness, violence, and crime when youth have more free time than they know what to do with on those long, hot summer days.
Filmed in an old and abandoned Victorian house in San Francisco with a special Blackmagic Cinema Camera and directed by David Dutton, this video has a timeless film noir look which “works well with the subject of death and sadness,” A-1 tells us. Shadows on the walls depict the hardships and tragedies of past summers as A-1 laments alongside a woman, model Mindy Suga, who is equally consumed with sorrow. “It’s hot as hell outside, and we can’t help but look back on the sad times we’ve experienced when the weather was like this before. Our thoughts are manifested on the walls of this creepy house,” says A-1.
Watch the video here: http://youtu.be/4hdqYMkpIj8
Check out A-1’s Tour Info Here: http://www.a-1music.com/tour/
Download A-1’s mixtape, The Thurl Tape, here : http://download.a-1music.com/album/the-thurl-tape
Check out the Stereogum premiere here: http://www.stereogum.com/1567302/a-1-summertime-sadness-prod-ryan-hemsworth-video-stereogum-premiere/video/
Please contact Michelle or Dan if interested in talking with A-1.
A-1 Background:
Born Adam Traore, a first generation US citizen to West African and Italian parents, A-1‘s music is constructed around vivid stories of growing up in The City while searching for happiness and self awareness. After the release of After School Special, a mixtape based on 90s television shows, he gained a fan base through internet buzz while still living on his friend’s couch. Soon after, he released his follow-up The Book Of Adam which was received so well, he quit his day job the day after the listening party. With 2012’s The Thurl Tape, A-1 has been acknowledged by publications such as the FADER and Complex, and was voted onto Thizzler‘s 2012 Bay Area Freshmen 10 List. Equipped with a heart filled with passion, an insatiable desire for creativity, discerning eyes and ears for quality, and a plan to spread his music to as many people as possible, A-1 is poised to be the first name in music lover’s iPods in the very near future.
Links:
official site | twitter | facebook | youtube | tumblr
“Summertime Sadness”:http://youtu.be/4hdqYMkpIj8
“Retinas”: http://youtu.be/V2s5jOsf5mw
“Summertime Sadness” Remix: https://soundcloud.com/adamraps/summertime-sadness-prod-ryan
“The Ritual”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI2UfwopCI0