Today, London experimental-pop musician Jerskin Fendrix has released his new video for his first official single release ‘Black Hair’ via London label untitled (recs).
The video was premiered today via The FADER, who said that the video “juxtaposes natural imagery with computer-generated technology to capture a lone figure haunted by something truly unknowable.”
The video was made by Liam Noonan, the artist behind the custom visuals at London clubbing Institution FOLD, and the track is a dark number inspired by Japanese anthology horror film ‘Kwaidan’.
Speaking about the new single, Fendrix said, “I wrote Black Hair just after finishing UBU at the V&A, and I had this slow and long and dark pacing very deep in my muscle memory. Hair is such a good idea for a ghost, the song is playing with that idea. I really wanted a way of playing with ghosts in a song, and being eaten by hair worked well. By the end the hair eats the song too. The hair is also kind of a symbol of regret.”
WATCH/SHARE THE VIDEO FOR ‘BLACK HAIR’ HERE
Jerskin Fendrix, has been carving himself a special place on the London scene. Starting out by releasing a trilogy of video singles that have already received high praise from the likes of Iggy Pop, The Quietus, Loud & Quiet, So Young and more. In 2018, he composed the score to an experimental absurdist opera ‘UBU’ at the V&A (receiving 4 stars from the Guardian) before embarking on a UK tour and joint single release with the Mercury shortlisted rock outfit, Black Midi.
As a classically trained pianist and violinist, Fendrix’s practice and ambition extends far beyond the realm of traditional songwriting. His PC-Music influenced, and avant-garde take on electronic pop cannibalises and appropriates elements of pop culture at the service of very personal songs. All of his material has an emotionally playful sarcastic take on the tropes of modern life, whilst also delving inwards. Most of all, it can’t be easily pigeonholed.
In 2017, Fendrix dropped his debut single ‘Onigiri’ and exacerbate romantic ballad ‘Manhattan’, before his third single ‘Swamp’ alongside a spectacular music video. Directed by close collaborator and visual artist Peter Price, the video juxtaposed internet found footage with portraits of the artist mourning a long-distance breakup – a recurring theme in the artist’s practice.
‘Black Hair’ represents another musical leap forward for Fendrix, adding new textures and further nurturing an avant-pop sound that has been his and his alone since he began writing and performing.
Fendrix will also play his first London headline show at Bermondsey Social Club tonight – Tickets are available HERE.
‘Black Hair’ is available on DSPs HERE.
