PREMIERE | Spritzer, "Nothing Here Without Her"
At home with Spritzer; film still courtesy of Brighid Greene.
Recently Matt Meade's pop outfit Spritzer released the introspective album Not Allowed, an introspective and evocative survey into the states of things both universal and personal. The offshoot of Brooklyn's cult band Friend Roulette, Meade presents a debut view of the video for "Nothing Here Without Her" filmed on Super 8 by Brighid Greene that showcases a quiet night at Matt's apartment in the company of good friends. The subdued and catchy electro pop interlude of pensive praises and desires about a loved one in absentia is paired with a chill dance party involving robes, sunglasses, copious amounts of tequila and a whole lotta cool and calm attitudes.
Brighid Greene’s visual for “Nothing Here Without Her” conveys in dramatic performance the emotive range of the song’s introspection scope, involving the entire spectrum of anguish and elation. Meade is joined by pals Kayvon Pourazar, Son Le, Bob Meade, Akiva Zamcheck and Luis Rafael Velasquez as they all act out the sections and motions of the song in their robes — looking like members of a posh sports club as they recline about with their thoughts and kick up a little of the old soft shoe (NYC apartment style). Greene's cinematic style matches the tranquil electric tropical tone of the track itself, blending the slow percolating rhythmic sounds and vintage celluloid visions into a calming feast for the senses. "Nothing Here Without Her" is built around the classic "A House is Not a Home" concept that illustrates the ways of coping when one's love is away (or gone all together). The video slowly ascends from the group sulking, to gradually starting a jam session complete with a dance party (with adult beverages in hand). Moving and gently grooving to the melancholy sounds of longing and desire; Matt and company croon and shake a leg to the track until the conclusion of the song has the audience gazing at the ceiling fan's spin. Spritzer sends up a song and film short to help out the lonely-hearted that makes the distance between hearts apart feel a little fonder and closer despite the respective circumstances.
Sentimental sessions with Spritzer; press photo courtesy of the artists.
Matt Meade of Spritzer introduced us to the visual for “Nothing Here Without Her” and the new album with the following insights:
All I can really say about the video is we decided to create something confusing with a little abstract tension. Several friends have seen the video and tried to make conclusions about it but its difficult for them to say what it is that makes them uncomfortable or what they suppose might happen. Its the result of inviting several of my close friends that don’t know each other that well over to my apartment and making them dance together in bathrobes....while drinking an irresponsible amount of tequila. The video was shot on Super 8 film by the director Brighid Greene.
Reflections on the new album — I'm glad its done and released. It was one of those albums that I made in an intense time of being angry at the state of our country and confused by some personal things in my life and just living in the month of August which I think makes people in NYC absolutely crazy. The heat kind of boils peoples’ brains. I'm glad the album is out and I can move on. I'm in the midst or maybe towards the end of a year long songwriting break. This doesn't mean I’ve stopped doing music. I have another EP of songs by the band Toebow on deck as well as an LP that’s almost done of cover songs done in a faux tropicalia, electric samba type of style. The covers range from Bruce Springsteen to Green Day to The Cure to Buit to Spill…cheers!
-Matt
Spritzer’s new album Not Allowed is available now.
Sing along with Spritzer; film still courtesy of Brighid Greene.