Thirty years ago, Andy Morahan was working with Guns N’ Roses, at the height of their fame and notoriety, directing a series of extravagant videos that still spark debate today. So in this episode we dive into Music Video History, as Andy takes us back to those wild times of big hair and big budgets, and how he created the most iconic guitar solo in music videos for November Rain. Andy also takes us back further to how he began his career, making some of the best loved British videos of the 80s - including classics for George Michael and Pet Shop Boys.

Useful links:

Andy Morahan

http://www.andymorahan.com/

King - Love & Pride

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlXtrnh-Ejo

George Michael - Careless Whisper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izGwDsrQ1eQ

George Michael - Faith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cs3Pvmmv0E

George Michael - Father Figure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_9hfHvQSNo

Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (co-director: Eric Watson)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3j2NYZ8FKs

Guns N’ Roses - Don’t Cry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRIbf6JqkNc

Guns N’ Roses - November Rain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbUC-UaAxE

Guns N’ Roses - Estranged

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpmAY059TTY

Guns N’ Roses - Garden Of Eden

Sam Brown is a top British commercials director who cut his teeth making music videos in the Noughties and recently made a rare return to videos for none other than Adele. Sam tells us about the making of her video for Oh My God, an incredible technical feat that fuses numerous Adele performances together with brilliant use of motion control camerawork, and he reveals the remarkable ‘pre-visualisation’ process that was key to making it work.

Useful links:

Sam Brown

https://www.roguefilms.co.uk/directors-roster/sam-brown

Adele - Oh My God

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/01/13/adele-oh-my-god-sam-brown/74534

Fred Rowson talks to us as he celebrates ten years as a music video director, and following his outstanding videos in 2021 for Years & Years, Little Mix and Wet Leg - aka “the loungewear trilogy”. During our entertaining chat Fred opens up about the ups and downs of directing music videos, and discusses his long working relationship with Olly Alexander of Years & Years.

Useful links:

Fred Rowson

https://blinkprods.com/talent/fred-rowson/

Police Dog Hogan - Shitty White Wine

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2012/01/27/police-dog-hogan-shitty-white-wine-fred-rowson/11629

Years & Years - Foundation

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2015/06/29/years-years-foundation-fred-rowson/35154

Years & Years - Desire

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2016/03/07/years-years-ft-tove-lo-desire-fred-rowson/39968

Joe Goddard - Lose Your Love

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2016/12/07/joe-goddard-lose-your-love-fred-rowson/45117

Years & Years - Palo Santo

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2018/07/06/years-years-palo-santo-fred-rowson/54001

Bree Runway - 2ON

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2019/05/29/bree-runway-2on-fred-rowson/58936

Years & Years - Starstruck

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/04/15/years-years-starstruck-fred-rowson/70390

Little Mix - No

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/11/16/little-mix-no-fred-rowson/73845

Wet Leg - Too Late Now

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/12/01/wet-leg-too-late-now-fred-rowson/74105

Sam Davey has been representing music video directors via independent agents OB Management since the mid-Noughties, playing a crucial role in bringing artists, labels and directors together, and involved in the making of hundreds of videos over that period. Winner of Best Agent at the UKMVAs 2021, we talked to Sam late last year about his work, what he looks for in directors, and how music video production looks right now.

Useful links:

OB Management

https://www.obmanagement.co.uk/

Beabadoobee - Last Day On Earth

Director: Arnaud Bresson

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/03/29/beabadoobee-last-day-earth-arnaud-bresson/74408

Michael Kiwanuka - Interlude (Loving The People)

Director: Phillip Youmans

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/12/15/michael-kiwanuka-interlude-loving-people-phillip-youmans/68602

Berwyn - Vega

Director: Brock Neal-Roberts

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/09/17/berwyn-vega-brock-neal-roberts/72837

Rudimental - Not Giving In

Director: Josh Cole

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2012/10/18/rudimental-ft-john-newman-alex-clare-not-giving-josh-cole/15329

Bicep - Apricots

Director: Mark Jenkin

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/10/30/bicep-apricots-mark-jenkin/67532

Sega Bodega - Only Seeing God When I Come

Director: Constantine//Spence

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/09/14/sega-bodega-only-seeing-god-when-i-come-constantine-spence/72758

KC Locke has become one of the UK’s most successful music video directors, working with many of the big stars of British grime and hiphop, including AJ Tracey, Aitch, Pa Salieu, and Stormzy, and making some standout music videos. He has also done it on his own terms, building an alternative to London-based music video production in his hometown of Manchester. So we got together with the Mancunian maverick to find out how it happened, and what makes him tick.

Useful links:

KC Locke

https://kclocke.com/

Iamddb - GAF

https://kclocke.com/2019/1/17/iamddb-gaf-music-video

Mahalia ft Burna Boy - Simmer

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2019/07/30/mahalia-ft-burna-boy-simmer-kc-locke/60006

Ed Sheehan ft Stormzy, Jaykai, Aitch - Take Me Back To London

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2019/08/28/ed-sheeran-ft-stormzy-jaykae-aitch-take-me-back-london-sir-spyro-remix-kc-locke/60472

Aitch - Raw

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/05/28/aitch-raw-kc-locke/64998

Meekz - Like Me

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/06/30/meekz-me-kc-locke/65439

AJ Tracey - Anxious

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/03/09/aj-tracey-%E2%80%98anxious%E2%80%99-kc-locke/69855

AJ Tracey - Little More Love

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/04/20/aj-tracey-little-more-love-kc-locke/70474

Aitch - Learning Curve

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/07/01/aitch-learning-curve-kc-locke/71691

ENNY - Keisha’s & Brenda’s

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/08/02/enny-kieshas-brendas-kc-locke/72167

Pa Salieu ft Aitch - Bad

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/10/20/pa-salieu-ft-aitch-bad-kc-locke/73371

In this episode we're talking to director and creative director Nathan James Tettey about his work with artists like Dave, Stormzy, Ghetts, Headie One and Fredo, exploring the importance of his close relationship with those artists in making some of the most-watched British music videos right now. Nathan also talks about working in a number of roles, including producer to video commissioner, before making the leap to directing - and his commitment to making the world of music video creation more diverse.

Useful links:

Nathan James Tettey

https://untoldstudios.tv/portfolio/nathan-james-tettey/

Dave - Question Time

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2017/10/12/dave-question-time-nathan-james-tettey/50022

Dave ft Fredo - Funky Friday

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2018/10/09/dave-ft-fredo-funky-friday-nathan-james-tettey-dave/55391

Stormzy ft Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2019/11/25/stormzy-ft-ed-sheeran-burna-boy-own-it-nathan-james-tettey/62068

Ghetts ft Stormzy & Ghetto - Skengman

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/01/18/ghetts-ft-stormzy-ghetto-skengman-nathan-james-tettey/69034

Fredo - Flowers & The Snow

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/08/16/fredo-flowers-snow-nathan-james-tettey/72385

Dave - Verdansk

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/09/20/dave-verdansk-dave-nathan-james-tettey/72881

In this episode we look at a different aspect of music video creativity, talking to hairstylist Regina Meessen about her career, and distinctive contribution to music videos. Regina talks about her unusual journey to becoming a hairstylist on fashion shoots, commercials and music videos, her strength in working with Afro hair, and the importance of research on jobs for Anaiis, Krept & Conan and Joy Crookes - and having an almost telepathic understanding with some makeup artists.

Krept & Conan - Freak Of The Week

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2015/05/18/krept-konan-freak-week-carly-cussen/34231

Sampha - Process

https://music.apple.com/us/music-movie/process/1264415035

Amaarae, Kojey Radical, Cruel Santino – Jumping Ship

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/12/10/amaarae-ft-kojey-radical-cruel-santino-jumping-ship-remi-laudat/68484

Anaiis ft Topaz Jones – Chuu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_COmbvwRi4

Little Simz – Woman

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/05/12/little-simz-ft-cleo-sol-woman-little-simz/70817

In this episode we talk to director/photographer Olivia Rose about her work, from chronicling London’s grime scene through her photos to her videos for Jorja Smith, Skepta, Lola Young and Sasha Keable. Olivia talks about how her passionate nature informs her work, the double-standards faced by women in the creative industries, exploring different sides of her character through her music videos - and her big plans for the future.

Useful links:

Olivia Rose

https://oliviarosephotography.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/oliviarosegarden/?hl=en

Jorja Smith - Blue Lights

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2018/05/10/jorja-smith-blue-lights-olivia-rose/52982

6lack ft Future - East Atlanta Love Letter

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2018/10/01/6lack-ft-future-east-atlanta-love-letter-olivia-rose/55202

Skepta - Pure Water

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2018/11/07/skepta-pure-water-olivia-rose/55894

Lola Young - Woman

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/08/10/lola-young-woman-olivia-rose/66021

Jess Glynne - This Christmas

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/12/16/jess-glynne-christmas-olivia-rose/68630

Sasha Keable ft Jorja Smith - Killing Me

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/09/06/sasha-keable-x-jorja-smith-killing-me-olivia-rose/72651

In this episode we talk music videos - and comedy - with Kasper Häggström, the Norwegian director who has made wonderful promos in his signature comic style for Kelly Lee Owens, Flyte and now Radiohead. Kasper talks about the joy of working with heavyweight actor Michael Sheen for Kelly Lee Owens, the rigorous creative process that led him to Radiohead, and reveals his all-time favourite video.

In this episode we talk music videos with cinematographer Rik Burnell, who has been responsible for outstanding work for the likes of Willie J Healey, Dry Cleaning and Samm Henshaw. He tells us about the work he’s been doing over the past couple of years, his unconventional route to becoming a cinematographer - and not being that interested in cameras.

Useful links:

Rik Burnell, DoP

https://looptalent.co.uk/portfolio/rik-burnell/

Willie J Healey ’True Stereo’

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/04/15/willie-j-healey-true-stereo-joe-wheatley/64284

TV Priest ‘Press Gang’

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/01/07/tv-priest-press-gang-joe-wheatley/68861

Dry Cleaning ‘Scratchcard Lanyard’

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/12/24/dry-cleaning-scratchcard-lanyard-rottingdean-bazaar/68608

Samm Henshaw ’Still Broke’

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/05/20/samm-henshaw-still-broke-jim-pilling/71012

Samm Henshaw ‘Grow’

https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2021/07/26/samm-henshaw-grow-jim-pilling/72053