Playlist: Daniel Askill

RadicalMedia director Daniel Askill [photo credit: Kathy Ryan] has shot promos for a raft of top artists including Paul McCartney, Wim, These New Puritans, Digitalism, Phoenix, Placebo and Unkle.

Now the director, and longtime colloborator of iconic Australian singer, songwriter, record producer and promo co-director Sia, reveals his inspirations and what's on his Playlist.

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

I have to admit I haven’t watched that many music videos recently….but every time I see the opening titles of the Westworld TV series I’m reminded of the timeless potency and influence of Chris Cunningham’s amazing All is Full of Love promo for Björk.

What’s the first promo you remember being impressed by?

Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

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

UNKLE’s Rabbit in your Headlights directed by Jonathan Glazer.

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

Nature is really the biggest inspiration…but Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch, JG Ballard, Jean-Leon Gerome... I listen to a lot of jazz and minimalist music….I also love Michael Jackson and I often look to my brothers and parents…they are all inspiring artists.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Miles Davis’s version of Human Nature, Hans Zimmer’s Planet Earth soundtrack, Pat Metheny, Steve Reich & Phill Niblock came and played at our studio last night.

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

I just bought one of these new powerbooks…the touch pad is driving me crazy but I also love it.

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

I think once upon I time I would always say Björk [below]…which is still true, but I feel I’ve been able to live out a lot of my music video fantasies with Sia [lower] now…so these days I’m a little more interested in collaborating with incredible actors, composers and writers…I’d also love to direct a modern opera.

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

When I started it was all on TV…then MTV become reality TV…then the budgets died…then the internet really arrived…. and as a result of the internet the Music video came back strong…now it’s great again but in a whole new exciting way.

Music videos have had a resurgence of late; where do you see the industry being in five years’ time?

Bigger, better, more diverse, long for music experiences, VR, AR, TV specials, Music driven film narratives…the combination of music and moving image is having a renaissance…this is just the beginning….

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know…

My favourite form of relaxation is playing the piano