Alternative pop act St. Vincent has released new performance video for the song “Saviour,” that was originally recorded for her album Masseducation, released back in 2017. This performance video features St. Vincent, aka Annie Clark, singing alongside Thomas Bartlett of Doveman, who accompanies her on piano, while the video itself is directed by Bobcat Goldthwait.
The release of this new piano version of the track is a part of the artist’s newest project MassEducation, an album that exclusively holds piano rendition’s of the artist’s songs off the album. This latest project, which took two to three live takes before it was placed together was released on Oct. 12 via Loma Vista Records.
“It was fast. Intuitive. Discovered. Raw,” Clark wrote regarding this project, adding that, the album is about: “two dear friends playing songs together with the kind of secret understanding one can only get through endless nights in New York City.”
Goldthwait is an acclaimed comedian and director, best known for his work with Chappelle’s Show that ran from 2003 until 2006 and the 2013 horror film Willow Creek. His additional credit includes extensive work with many other stand up comedians including Patton Oswalt and Jimmy Kimmel and a plethora of black comedy films.
This latest performance recording appears to take place at the singer’s performance at the Belasco Theater earlier this month, where Goldthwait was in attendance. According to Grimy Goods, the director referenced his past career, that saw immense success in the 80s and discussed current events, stating, “Can we all agree to not call Kavanaugh anything but a rapist.”
While MassEducation was announced on Oct. 3, the artist gave a small preview of what was to come in September with the release of “Slow Slow Disco,” her third version of the track “Slow Disco.” Songs are living things. They grow, they evolve, they change their moods and personalities over time,” the artist explained in the YouTube description for the track upon its release.
Taylor Swift allegedly inspired the musician to go into this more stripped back direction with her music, according to an interview with Beats 1 Radio. Clark stated that Swift may have convinced St. Vincent’s producer Jack Antonoff, who has produced for both artists, to encourage Clark to pursue this style.
“I don’t want to start a weird rumour or anything,” Clark explained in the interview“ but I swear to God, you know because Jack Antonoff’s bros with Taylor Swift because they work together a lot, and I feel like Taylor was like, ‘You should make this a pop song’.”
Masseducation was the artist’s most commercially successful release to date, while continuing the artist’s trend of critically acclaimed releases. While this latest release covers previously written material it may have the potential to achieve a moderate amount of commercial success.
“The thesis for the album very well could be a lyric from this song: ‘I can’t turn off what turns me on.’ It was the last track to come together,”Clark explained regarding Masseducation. “The words to all the verses and everything just came out in a torrent, and I sent them to [producer] Jack [Antonoff]. I was like, ‘Is this too oblique?’ Jack, who is the ultimate cheerleader, just said, ‘No, this is really interesting. Keep going.”
Photo Credit: Owen Ela
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