Saman Kesh (born Saman Keshavarz) is an Iranian-American filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. He is known for his narrative music video work for notable artists such as Basement Jaxx, Calvin Harris, Kygo, Placebo, !!! Chk Chk Chk, Vitalic, Apparat and Porter Robinson.  Topics Discussed In This Episode:  Living and being isolated in the desert The Definite Chief Aim - a concept by Napolean Hill through way of Mitch Horowitz Grieving the death of his girlfriend Jean Guo Gaining momentum through commercial success Understanding purpose Working through failures Accepting ourselves Being magick Balancing out the need for control Changing negative perspectives “Hollywood has this ability to arrest you in this psychosis of delusions” - Saman Kesh The gift of an existential crisis Power in analyzing dreams Functioning under depression Saman’s “Zoom” call analogy Martial arts  Books Referenced:  “Fierce Intimacy: Standing Up to One Another with Love” by Terry Real  Artists Mentioned:  The Daniels (Directing Duo) Martin Scorsese (Director) Jonah Hill (Actor) Joyce Carol Oates (Writer)  artistdecoded.com samankesh.com instagram.com/saman_kesh twitter.com/ghibli303

Healing, Feeling, and Honesty with Saman Kesh | AD 232

"I started this series as a means for exploration, an exploration of self, and an exploration of the perspectives of other artists.
 
This series is an unabridged documentation of conversations between artists.  It’s a series dedicated to breaking down the barriers we tend to set up in our own minds.  I want to inspire future creatives to have the courage to explore and experiment.  This is about making dreams a reality and not about letting our dreams fall to the wayside.
 
My intention is to give my audience a sense of real human connection, something that feels rich and organic.
 
When I was thinking of a title I thought of the word “movement”. 
In relation to the Renaissance period in art, my goal for this program is to signify a rebirth of consciousness towards the way we look at contemporary art."

- Yoshino (@yoshinostudios)

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John Wentz is a contemporary artist whose work is an exploration of process and technique. Working within the classical idiom of the human figure, his goal is to reduce and simplify the image to its core fundamentals: composition, color, and mark-making. Paint application and brush strokes are broad and simplified as a means to connect and convey these ideas to the viewer with an abstract sensibility.   John was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. His interest in art began at the age of 6 when he first discovered Batman and Spiderman comic books. After years of copying comics panel by panel, he worked in the commercial arts as a muralist, billboard creator, and freelance illustrator. After learning to paint by doing airbrushed billboards, he decided to pursue Fine Art and work in oils. Since then, he has had 5 solo exhibitions in San Francisco and numerous group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. His works have appeared in many publications and have won multiple awards. artistdecoded.com johnwentz.com instagram.com/johnwentz

AD 262 | John Wentz

Tim Bettinson is a 27-year-old singer-songwriter and producer most recognized for creating and living behind the lustful, ambient guise of Vancouver Sleep Clinic. Across his catalogue, elements of anthemic indie rock, intimate R&B;, and sophisticated folk provide a sweeping film soundtrack for Bettinson’s gentle vocal and expansive storytelling. Emerging from his native Brisbane, Australia on the strength of a series of singles including “Someone To Stay," “Middle of Nowhere," “The Wire,” and the bedroom-produced viral cover of “As It Was," Tim now roams the world with a laptop and headphones in pursuit of adventure and creative inspiration for his ever-evolving project. Topics discussed in this episode:  Leaving Los Angeles (00:12:19) How Tim and Yoshino originally met (00:14:04) Lesson’s Tim has learned throughout his journey in music and the industry (00:17:31) The feeling of making music (00:23:34) Yoshino’s journey into martial arts and photography (00:26:47) The first song Tim released on Soundcloud called “Vapour” (00:30:19) Tim’s decision to start singing and using falsetto (00:35:22) Natural talents vs. achieving abilities through hard work (00:40:39) Anxiety and self-imposed pressure (00:52:25) Advanced technologies (00:57:45) Finding balance and joy within the creative process (01:04:06) Dealing with anxiety, self-doubt, and negative thoughts (01:09:36) Navigating feedback and trusting your instincts (01:18:38) Defining one’s purpose (01:25:16) Finding perspective on past work (01:30:49) People who inspire Tim and Yoshino (01:36:57)  artistdecoded.com vancouversleepclinic.org instagram.com/vancouversleepclinic

AD 261 | Tim Bettinson (Vancouver Sleep Clinic)

Iranian-American filmmaker Saman Kesh has the most Vimeo staff picks, ever. He attributes this accolade to excessive consumption of rocket fuel and a knack for combining the human experience with a healthy dose of controlled chaos.  After his music videos won him YDA Silver at Cannes and two Best Video at SXSW, his foray into advertising was an epic international Superbowl spot for Taco Bell. Since then, he has worked with major brands like Zoom, Google, Citibank, Uber, and most recently picked up a handful of Clio awards for his work with Toyota and Nintendo. Saman has written and directed two universally hailed short films, CONTROLLER and HIT TV, which are being developed into TV-shows, and he is currently working on two feature films.  On his off hours, he plays video games and trolls racists. Topics discussed in this episode:  Creating a sanctuary for yourself (00:03:20) His short film Controller, DP’d by Isaac Bauman (00:10:01) Saman’s definition of success (0015:43) Celebrating small victories (00:22:28) Working professionally with ADHD (00:26:59) Knowing our strengths and weaknesses and how to work with them (00:35:40) Martial arts and spirituality (00:43:22) Saman’s advice for artists and creatives (01:11:16)  artistdecoded.com samankesh.com instagram.com/saman_kesh

AD 260 | Saman Kesh

Daniele Bolelli is a writer, martial artist, university professor, and podcaster. He was born in Italy and currently lives in Los Angeles.  Topics discussed in this episode:  Daniele’s podcasts History on Fire and The Drunken Taoist (00:05:55) Daniele’s writing practice (00:08:51) Family and navigating personal struggles (00:15:03) The origin of Daniele’s passion for history (00:30:59) Reflections on legacy (00:35:02) Unpacking success, values, and the nature of quality (00:40:46) The complexities of meritocracy  (00:53:32) Discussing personal values (01:08:19) Thoughts on the impact of advanced technology (01:17:10) Power and agency within decision making (01:44:50) Daniele’s life advice (01:49:21)   artistdecoded.com danielebolelli.com danielebolelli.substack.com historyonfirepodcast.com thedrunkentaoist.com instagram.com/daniele_bolelli

AD 259 | Daniele Bolelli

Yoshino is a multi-hyphenate artist and the host of Artist Decoded.  Yoshino’s essay “Photo Roulette” can be read at Yoshino’s Diary on Substack.  Yoshino’s Links: yoshinostudios.com yoshino.substack.com instagram.com/yoshinostudios twitter.com/yoshinostudios

Healing, Feeling, and Honesty with Saman Kesh | AD 232

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