Playlist: Ana Velasco

What’s the best music video you’ve seen recently and why?

Gener8ion and Yung Lean - Storm, directed by Romain Gavras and choreographed by Damien Jalet.

The story builds and builds through tension and torment to break into a choreographic crescendo that really feels liberating. In an era of excessive usage of technology it feels really wonderful to see a video that shines because of its human-ness. 

Honourable mention: A$AP Rocky - Tailor Swif. A couple of years old but kind of flew under the radar. On the opposite spectrum to my previous point, this video uses technological effects to the highest artistic caliber. It’s like if you put Hieronymus Bosch, I Spy, NyQuil, and LSD in a blender. Fun, fast, surreal, insane.

What’s the first music video you remember being impressed by?

Robbie Williams - Rock DJ directed by Vaughan Arnell.

This song (and video) somehow skipped over the USA but was as huge in Mexico as in Williams’ native England, and continues to be an instant party maker in CDMX. I’ve put so many American friends onto this video and love seeing their reactions. No spoilers, but it’s an absolute experience. IYKYK!

Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time, directed by Nigel Dick.

I was the exact right age when this cultural asteroid of a music video came out. It simply changed everything and we knew it immediately, even as kids.

The White Stripes - The Hardest Button to Button, Directed by Michel Gondry.

I remember watching this with so much joy and wonder and it continues to bring out those same reactions. Gondry’s oeuvre is full of incredible and groundbreaking work and it would be easy to pick any of his videos to fill this list. 

And what’s your all-time favourite music video?

Spooky Black - Without You, directed by Gabe Broderick.

I just love everything about it.

The Blaze - Virile, directed by Guillaume Alric and Jonathan Alric AKA The Blaze.

This intimate vignette of two friends hanging out, being silly, having fun is such a tender encapsulation of friendship. Even though it highlights two men, the feeling I get when watching it lets me project my own nights I’ve had like that with friends across the board, smoking a joint, dancing carefree, feeling young and loved and living.

What other directors/artists do you look to for inspiration?

Solange, David Lynch, and Sofia Coppola.

What are you listening to at the moment?

I’m working on the set list for my bi-monthly radio residency with DRAMA Radio and the upcoming show is all about Nigerian music, so I’m listening to the likes of Fela Kuti, The Funkees, The Lijadu Sisters.

What’s your favourite bit of tech, whether for professional or personal use?

My Bang & Olufsen Beovox Red Line speakers from the early 90s that used to belong to my dad. The sound is so clear you feel you can teleport into them.

What artist(s) would you most like to work with and why?

I would love to continue to create fashion runway soundtracks, elevating what I’ve had the opportunity to do. It would be a dream to collaborate with musicians and engineers to create an entire sonic landscape that is a part of the theatre and poetry of a fashion show. 

Also Brian Eno because his genius also comes with heart and humanity.