Hudson Mohawke released his lyric video for his newest single “Warriors” featuring Ruckazoid & Devaeux yesterday off his first solo album since 2009, Lantern, set to be released next Tuesday, June 16.
With a well mixed balance of black and white, neon and beige palettes, the “Warriors” video transports you into a dreamlike world. Even if the concept of the lyric video may be simple, it draws you in nonetheless.
This is the first solo project Hudson Mohawke has released since he and previous duo partner Lunice called it quits from TNGHT, a collaborative and esteemed partnership that lead to the two releasing a self-titled EP and working with none other than Kanye West on his critically acclaimed album Yeezus. The video premieres the week before Mohawke’s latest album, Lantern, is to be released. This single is the next in a line of previews for the new album, including songs “Scud Books” and “Very First Breath.”
The beginning of the video immerses you in this slow moving buildup towards the chorus. As is customary for a lyric video, the lyrics are the song are the center focus for the way the video plays out. The lyrics are mostly projected in light on the women’s bodies and in graphics added by the video. As the video builds, the lyrics become more sporadic and are placed more and more on the women’s bodies in various forms.
At first the women are showed dancing in a contemporary fashion, but as the video continues and the lyrics become longer and more widespread across their bodies, the movements slow and the camera pans around them in the same sort of continual movement as before. Whether the lyrics are projected in light or painted onto their bodies, the women are showcased in various colors, including the lights around them or the words on their skin.
The women are each in front of a blank backdrop so that the video moves in a uniform continuity as it changes from woman to woman. There is even a bit of strobe light action within the first minute.
Without being explicit, there’s a constant undertone of sexuality and grace throughout the video, whether it be in the women’s movements or the strategically placed messages across their upper bodies. The sensuality and power of the images correlates with the message of the song, with the chorus saying, “we might lose the battle but we’ll win the war. And we don’t care ’cause love is what we’re fighting for.”
The most visually stunning elements were towards the end of the video, where most of the lyrics are in paint and the lighting changes from bursts to light and dark contrasts. At one point there’s a black light effect that compliments paint on one of the woman’s lips. It’s pretty great.
You can read about the release on Pretty Much Amazing’s website and you can watch the video below:
Leave a Comment