Playlist: Rik Green

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

I just watched King Krule’s new video by Frank Lebon for Czech One. Fantastic! Music video perfection.

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

Sabotage by the Beastie Boys. I remember buying the VHS (instant ageing), taking it home and sitting way too close to the TV, watching it intently. It just looked like so much fun and it was so DIY as well, it felt like something we could all do. A few weeks later my mate and I discovered it wasn’t that easy when we tried to make video ourselves. But we had a laugh trying.

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

That’s like asking someone to choose one movie! Twisting my arm, it would have to be Pharcydes Drop. Spike again. I really think it encapsulates what it is to make a great music video. It takes the artist, what it is they are about and magnifies it. It’s simple too. It’s that video you watch and think, why has no one done that before? And that’s what you want out of any great music video.

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

I find my inspiration comes from everywhere.  My family, friends, the directors I get to work with. I actually prefer to step back when I need to look for inspiration. I’m not a big Instagram person, the social-media-phobe that I am, but I do love photography. The last thing I saw that was wonderful was Malick Sidibe’s work at Somerset house before Christmas. It had a great soundtrack too.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Here’s my most recently played list: 

Porter Ray – Watercolour, Washed Out – Mister Yellow, Devendrah Banhart – Cripple Crow, Frank Ocean, Burial, Steve Lacy – Steve Lacy’s Demo, Animal Collective, Shabazz Palaces, Broadcast – Tender Buttons, Kelela, And a lot of hip-hop/rap!

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

Either my Nintendo Switch or my noise cancelling headphones. Both incredible for traveling!

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

I’ve been very fortunate to work with a lot of artists I admire but I would love to work with Kendrick, because he’s an incredible artist, in the truest sense of the word. Missy Elliot, a true visionary in music and videos alike. Oh and I’d love to work on a Queens of the Stone Age video! They have done some killer videos! Bring back my thrashing childhood!

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

As the internet matures, there is a resurgent need to stand out from the dearth of visual stuff that is put in front of us every day. People just don’t have the time. So it’s how do you stand above that, whether that’s from an artist’s approach and/or the directors vision.

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

Everyone is keen to preach about the death knell of the music industry and videos alike but I think it will get stronger artistically. The need for a broader depth in culture is needed, now more than ever and I think music will respond, as it always has done.

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

I like silence.