Low Lows & Ceremonies

Low Lows & Ceremonies is a cinematic music video for independent musician Kēynes, This high-concept music video reflects the beautiful mess that life is – a narrative rumination about the highs and lows of love lost, in a vibrant, fun but meaningful way.

Misdirection is introduced about what it is we’re seeing – romance, intimacy and stoic confidence colour the narrative, using different techniques (a very intentional colour palette, match cuts, quick cuts, vignettes, non-linear and meta-narrative) to tell a story drenched in symbolism (smoke and fire feature throughout) forced perspective and an approach to pop music videos that entertains (as all pop music videos should) but stays true to the tropes of European cinema in a fresh modern way whilst paying tribute to the vernacular of classic romances.

Director: Farai Dube @faraidube_
Cinematographer: Peter Hadfield @peter_hadfield
Producer: Tyler Klementti @tyklementti
PA: Jono Williamson @Mndy_art
1st AD: Yana Malik @theyanayang
1st AC: Matthew Veen
Head of Art/Production Designer: Nathan Rideout @nathanrideout3
Set Dressers: Morgan & Lyz Porteous @__mmorgan @Lyzzzz_
Key Grip: Tobias Harrison @tobiasaharrison
Gaffer: John Mauch @johnny_mauch
Swing: Nick Keung @juk.sing
Stylist: Angie Jayasinghe @bby_aj
Hair & Makeup: Samantha Ryan @sammiryanmakeup
Photography: Patrick Ryder @patryderr
BTS: Sara Jade Alfaro @sara.jade.alfaro.dehghani
SPFX: Steve Park (LAIRDFX) @lairdfx
VFX: WeAreCovert @we_are_covert
Sound: Marco Furgiuele @_.flowstate._
Sound Design: Nathaniel Smith @nawms.music
Music Producer: ‘the25thhr’ Andrew Gowie @xxvhr
Starring: Céline Brown @celinebrownn & Chuk Fent @chukfent
Edit: Alan Scott-Mcarthy @_a_1_a_n_
Post Producer: Jade Lamb
Colourist: Connor Coolbear at Electric Theatre Collective @cjcoolbear @etc.colour @electric.theatre.collective
Creative Studio: Anthem Creative Arts @anthemlimited
Production Company: Merchant @merchant.hq
Production Company: WRACK at Wieden + Kennedy London @wk_ldn
Executive Producer at ETC: Oliver Whitworth @owhitworth86
Executive Producer at Merchant: Ian Webb @enwebb @merchant.hq
Head of Production at Merchant: Colin Walker @colinwwalker
Executive of Producer at WRACK: Ardith Birchall & Jennifer Lawlor @ardy2d2 @jennifer_lawlor
Studio Directors at Anthem Creative Arts: Warren Philo & Farai Dube @faraidube_ @philoo0
Camera, Grip, @ Electric: @2dhouse

Though I’m no stranger to film sets, this is my directorial debut, an honour Keynes gave me. We’ve worked together for years, and he’s had me behind the scenes, but for this project and song, he wanted us and the rest of the team to step out, be proud, and show our talent.

Supported by production from Merchant Productions in Toronto, Wrack at Wieden + Kennedy London, WeAreCovert on VFX and the legendary Electric Theatre Collective on the colour grade – Low Lows was crafted to help continue Kēynes’ penchant for cinematic storytelling and cement Low Lows as a staple for lovers of pop, R&B and alternative sounds.

The video was one of the songs that propelled the making of the whole EP, it’s the song that encapsulated everything about Kēynes’ step change and growth into an artist fully accepting of himself, buoyed by a renewed confidence in self ‘Avant Garden’ is a concept about that space in your head, that inner place where all things are possible, and anything can grow if you believe in yourself.

Farai & the LL&C crew