Playlist: Sebastian Zotoff

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

Just recently, I saw the Harry Styles - Aperture video. The Aube Perrie and Harry Styles collaborations are always so fun, and Gwen Ghelid, the editor, is such a talent. 

I know this is from a bit ago, but the Little Simz - Flood video always sticks in my mind. I am a fan of basically anything Salomon Ligthelm does, and Elise Butt did an amazing job on the edit.

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

I think the earliest one was Coldplay - The Scientist. It’s such an iconic video that I think everyone knows, but I just remember thinking, “How did they do that?” Only to find out much later, Chris Martin learned the whole song in reverse for sync, which is such an ask of an artist to do.

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

It’s really hard to pick. The first that comes to mind is DJ Shadow feat. Run The Jewels - Nobody Speak. 

The Blaze - Territory is an amazing film. A little more recently, Mette - Mama’s Eyes is an editorial masterclass.

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

Renell Medrano, Hannan Hussain, The Reids, and Salomon Ligthelm are the first that come to mind. All kinds of different but all have been on an absolute tear doing beautiful work.

What are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been really on a Dijon kick lately. Can’t stop listening to Baby, his last album.

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

I realize this might be a little of a cop-out, but my MacBook. I use it so much for what I do and then for so much personally, I can’t think of anything that I have gotten more use out of.

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

I think as far as musicians, Rosalía and Little Simz, I just love every piece of visual media they put out of late, and they seemingly allow so much creative freedom. 

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

Since I got into it, AI has been the biggest shift. I could be living in a bubble, but there is such a negative response whenever its use is pronounced, it gives me hope. The directors I look up to make such a concerted effort to shoot more practically and honestly that it just seems hard for anything so organic to be replaced by anything a computer could do.