2017 may be the poster year for getting messed with, but Albany-based alternative rock trio, Northern Faces are leaning against the wrongdoers, dropping false illusions, and driving straight into a less messed with reality, in the video for their song "Messin' With Me' premiering here today on EARMILK.
Produced and directed by Chromoscope Pictures, the latest visual from the band, finds the three members cruising the highways of upstate New York, or so it seems at first. Through a plot twist like revelation, you find the band is actually situated in a video set with visions from upstate playing on a green screen, surrounded by what looks to be a frustrated group of directors, assistants, and camera crew. Tensions seem high, but instead of falling into the frustration, Northern Faces turn the key, rev up the engine of their beautiful blue vintage car and drive off the set and into freedom.
Here's vocalist and guitarist Bryan Shortell's take on the song:
"Messin’ With Me” is a song that was born out of pure frustration. We were up to 20 or 30 demos that we had written for the new record, and it finally felt like we’d hit our stride. After months of writing and re-writing these tracks, the album finally felt like it was coming together. We had a producer and a studio lined up, and it felt like we were nearing the finish line.
Our producer was on the road with a couple of bigger bands that we really respect, helping one of them finish up their album. He hit us up asking us to send him a few demos. He said one of the bands wanted to help out and give us some feedback. We sent over two tracks right away – clearly in the demo stages still, but very close to our heart. That night we got back a video message that ended up changing the course of the entire record.
“Messin’ With Me” is the first song that was born from that message. A message that turned out to be nothing but a big misunderstanding, but ended up inspiring a batch of new songs that would become the cornerstone of this new record. It’s a song for anyone who’s ever felt like it might finally be time to close the door on your dreams. It’s a song for anyone who thinks their time has run out, and it’s time to stop playing “pretend” and hang it up – to settle down. But mostly, it’s a song for anyone who knows what it’s like to get knocked down and get right the fuck back up. Not because you want to, but because you have to."
The video, like the song, is frustration mixed with freedom and optimisim tinged with doubt, a mindset the band plans on exploring in their soon to come full-length record, Fingers Crossed.
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Press Photo: Shervin Lainez
