Playlist: Cara Stricker

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

Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5. Watching this, I felt like both the video and the song were conceived at the same time. They’re so indicative of each-other, feeding off one another. I haven't seen such a clear conceptual song and video tie together like this in so long. Its pretty perfect. 

Pharrell Williams featuring 21 Savage and Tyler, The Creator - Cash In Cash Out. I love the 3D zoetrope looping inspiration. It's fresh and old at the same time, but executed in way that feels progressive. I love the tactile the quality of the characters. It makes you feel like the video is a plasticine model construction stop animation, yet rendered in VFX. I love the homage to the old executed in the new, and how that propels the medium forward. Even though the technique they use doesn't require the film elements to loop, I love how it stays true to the zoetrope inspiration. 

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

I’m not sure if it was the first, but there are a couple that have always stayed with me.

 Bjork - All Is Full Of Love from Chris Cunningham, Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar from Michel Gondry, and Fatboy Slim - Praise You directed by Spike Jones.

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

I don’t have one! Aphex Twin - Windowlicker is up there. 

What are you listening to at the moment?

A lot of NTS radio. I’m loving right now Zakia’s Breakfast show. My records on rotation right now are; W.I.T.CH, Pedro Santos Krishnanda, Gal Costa India.

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

Some are Olafur Eliasson, James Turrell, Arthur Jafa’s installations, Es Devlin, Pina Bausch, Martha Graham, Tarkovsky, Aronofsky, Kubrick, Audre Lorde, Joseph Albers, Warsan Shire, Graham Hancock, Charlie Kaufman. 

There are too many.

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

I don't know if I have a favourite bit of tech at the moment. I usually get inspired by analog systems. The most interesting piece of tech I’ve read about lately is LaMDA, the new google A.I.

How do you feel the promo industry has changed since you started in it? 

There seems to be a much wider net of work now, whereas when I started, there was a small pool of successful directors or promos we all watched because they were viewed on very limited platforms. Now, there are so many channels, avenues and streaming services that the audiences have become splinted into huge niche pools. For years now, I keep learning about endless artists across the globe that have millions of fans, and no-one I know has heard of them. I love that. 

Overall I feel like people are listening more, which helps more voices to come through.