After the release of his”Crisis Actor” EP, the Philadelphia-based artist teamed up with director Christian Bufo to create a truly ethereal music video
After the well-received release of his Crisis Actor EP earlier this year, the rise of Philadelphia-based artist Holy Mountain is becoming increasingly difficult to miss. Already armed with a lengthy discography and showcasing his ever-developing style throughout recent tracks, Holy Mountain is beginning to carve his own corner into the underground scene. His tracks, although often melancholic, demonstrate a variety of influences — ranging from shoegaze to trap — which serve as a breath of fresh air.
He recently teamed up with director Christian Bufo to create the music video for fan-favorite track from the EP, “Center of Attention” (prod. Dull6000). With focus on Mountain as the only presence throughout, distorted and overlapping imagery of the artist captures the essence of “Center of Attention” as the video creates the feeling of a bleak and surreal world. A theme of despondency, tackling ideas of self-medication and its strung out effects, is echoed through the song’s emotional lyrics. “I’m up for 24 or 30 hours again // I took 4 or 5 I love the way it tastes,” and the disfigured, solitary shots accentuate this feeling of his subsequent hazy mindset. This visual correlation is what makes the viewer feel immersed in the experience, and plays a role in what makes the video so evocative.
The directing frequently returns to imagery of Holy Mountain cutting a lonely figure on a deserted seafront — a sense of brooding in both his lyrics and appearance, “I’m always saying sorry // I’m always in your way.” Bufo’s abstract style of shooting helps to allow this darker ambiance to flourish, with his transient shots reflecting the feelings of incompleteness. Through using an ongoing guitar melody and heavy reverb on these backing vocals, Holy Mountain’s clever style is demonstrated. These stylized, effective nuances are not restricted to recording, with Bufo’s directing giving ample screen time to Holy Mountain being what allows his lyrics to truly resonate; this secluded video a reflection of the anguish in personal relationships that his emotive lyrics refer to.
Bufo’s creative and atypical visuals work seamlessly with Holy Mountain’s own evolving style. Their combination gives a whole new meaning to the dreamy lyrics; the duo having created such an innovative but pertinent piece. It’s clear Holy Mountain’s growing discography and presence is one to keep an eye out for, but in the meantime watch the visuals for “Center of Attention” below.