SPLITLEAF "Crown Of Thornes" EP VISUALS
Splitleaf, a band comprising former members of Faminehill, Verticals, and Reminder, debuted with a five-track EP titled "Crown of Thorns." Their music, deeply inspired by the aggressive, biting sound of Knocked Loose, explores themes of internal struggles, societal expectations, and daily pressures. My role involved crafting vertical videos that align with these themes, allowing fans to engage with the music visually on platforms such as YouTube, Spotify and Instagram.
Pre-Production & Creative Concept
Collaborated closely with the band to understand their vision and the emotional undertones of each track.
The central theme of the "Crown Of Thorns" EP revolves around suffering and inner turmoil. To visually reinforce this concept, I incorporated cyclical movements as a recurring element in the video. These cyclical patterns symbolize the repetitive nature of pain and emotional struggle.
To segment the chapters of the video, I used domino graphics. This choice reflects the psychological characteristic of suffering and depressive states, where negative thoughts triggers each other. The dominoes represent the interconnected and compounding nature of these experiences.
The video features symbolic elements extracted from the imagery of the band's visuals. These symbols serve to delineate the chapters and emphasize the frequent and direct use of symbolism common in the hardcore music genre.
To achieve a dynamic effect that mirrors the band's intense music, I employed techniques such as image overlays, composite creations, and vibrant lighting effects. These methods create a visually engaging experience, enhancing the emotional impact of the music.
Production
Filmed over two days, focusing on intense, emotive scenes that mirror the band's raw, visceral music. Utilized mostly photograph based lighting techniques to create a dynamic and visually striking narrative.
Vertical format was chosen to maximize engagement on contemporary platforms:
Spotify Canvas: Created looping visual snippets that play during song playback, enhancing the listener's experience.
Instagram Reels: Edited shorter, impactful versions of the videos suitable for Reels, increasing the band's visibility and reach on social media.
Working on the Splitleaf vertical video project was a rewarding experience, allowing me to blend my skills in photography, cinematography, and editing to create visually engaging content that resonates with both the band and their audience. This project stands as a testament to the power of visual media in enhancing collaborative musical storytelling. This project has not only elevated the band's profile but also demonstrated the potential of vertical video formats in modern music marketing.
Credits:
Co-directed: Splitleaf & Márk Aczél
Director of Photography, Cinematographer, and Editor: Márk Aczél
Band: Splitleaf
Software: Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Lightroom
Press Coverage: NuSkull