Playlist: Nathan James Tettey

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

AntsLive - Number One Candidate by Tom Emmerson made me smile for sure. I like videos with character and personal swagger and this one hits the nail in the face. I can see the imagination which has been inspired by budget limitations potentially but I love that it didn’t stop them squeezing as many cool ideas on screen as possible.

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

Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson - Scream directed by Mark Romanek. Epic business. They spent seven million dollars and told the media to go fuck themselves at them same time and it worked. 

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

Also... Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson - Scream. 

I love the scale, use of VFX the simplicity in the colour scheme, the futuristic styling, art direction and the link up between brother and sister. They even squeezed in some manga animation…

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

My mind is a bat cave of all sorts. I love watching big TV series at the moment so I’m loving characters. The hotel manger in the first season of White Lotus is my hero currently and then Reservation Dogs which has a lot of heart and gives you insight into a group of people that time tries to forget. 

Estevan Oriol the photographer, Alexander McQueen god rest his soul, Es Devlin is a big influence; I love how she really makes connections and collaborates with artists. Dan Flavin for lighting references. Syd Mead for illustrations, Kehinde Wiley the GOAT, I could go down a rabbit hole with this…

What are you listening to at the moment?

Anything with a piano like Duval Timothy or h hunt. Then Avelino, Dave, Headie One, Wesley Joesph, Yabya, Little Simz, Larry June, Asake, Ella Mai, Pa Salieu, and Radiohead.

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

My Nintendo switch. They just re-released Goldeneye and Zelda on it. 

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

SZA, she blows my mind and I’d like to return the favour... and Kanye West, I just want to hear it all from the horses mouth.

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

By hook or by crook the face of it is slowly changing through diversity in many different forms. Mainly around who I see now on set and how they’re treated including myself.