Playlist: David J East
David J East is a partner and creative director at Imagine This. Here, he chats about the dream of working with the Gallagher brothers, looking at paintings for inspiration, and his love of penguins.
What’s the best music video you’ve seen recently and why?
I really love the Supermodel - Push video directed by Joe Connor and Emile Rafael. It felt mad, like some sort of trip. It was amazing. Great directors!
Also the METTE - Mama’s Eyes video is absolutely incredible. The edit and whole vibe of it is stunning, and I find myself going back to it alot. It’s brilliant.
What’s the first music video you remember being impressed by?
I think probably Nabil Elderkin’s video for Foals - Late Night. I remember when they went through the walls, a young me was shocked that you could do that in post-production.
Credits
powered by-
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- Director Nabil Elderkin
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Unlock full credits and more with a Source + shots membership.
Credits
powered by- Director Nabil Elderkin
Credits
powered by- Director Nabil Elderkin
And what’s your all-time favourite music video?
Such a hard question, there are so many. I really like Aoife Mcardle’s video for James Vincent McMorrow - Red Dust. I remember when I was younger that film really made me want to make music videos.
I also feel like Jamie XX - Gosh should get a mention. Incredible.
Credits
powered by-
- Production Company Colonel Blimp
- Director Aoife McArdle
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Unlock full credits and more with a Source + shots membership.
Credits
powered by- Production Company Colonel Blimp
- Director Aoife McArdle
- Exec Producer Tamsin Glasson
- Colorist James Bamford
- Producer Niamh McGregor
- Record Label
- Artist
- DP Steve Annis
Credits
powered by- Production Company Colonel Blimp
- Director Aoife McArdle
- Exec Producer Tamsin Glasson
- Colorist James Bamford
- Producer Niamh McGregor
- Record Label
- Artist
- DP Steve Annis
- Song "Red" James Vincent McMorrow
What other directors/artists do you look to for inspiration?
I love paintings, I feel like paintings and physical art pieces are such a great source of inspiration. Art really gives you an understanding of emotion and has the power to really connect with you.
Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol are probably my personal favourites in terms of artists. But I’m also really inspired by directors such as Stanley Kubrick, Alfonso Cuaron and Andrei Tarkovsky.
What are you listening to at the moment?
I’m listening to Mk.gee’s new album, Two Star & the Dream Police. It’s beautifully poetic.
What’s your favourite bit of tech, whether for professional or personal use?
Do Lime Bikes count? They are honestly the best things.
What artist(s) would you most like to work with and why?
Oasis probably. I mean it’s Oasis. Also I think it would be so fun to shoot with both of them together.
How do you feel the promo industry has changed since you started in it?
I feel nowadays music content has gravitated far more towards Instagram, and publishing promotional clips rather than full videos. We’re seeing far more quick, 1 minute visualizers for a bunch of songs or album, rather than one whole music video per track.
Credits
powered by-
- Production Company Iconoclast
- Director Romain Gavras
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Unlock full credits and more with a Source + shots membership.
Credits
powered by- Production Company Iconoclast
- Director Romain Gavras
- Editor Walter Mauriot
Credits
powered by- Production Company Iconoclast
- Director Romain Gavras
- Editor Walter Mauriot
Where do you see the music video industry being in five years’ time?
Hopefully still alive (I hope that’s not too bleak!). I think we’ll see the industry lean further into the current trend of short social promos, and only the big artists will still be making music videos. Content in the music world is getting shorter and shorter.
Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know…
I love penguins.