Music video
To develop the vision for the music video, Kyrill collaborated closely with director Gleb Bondarenko, who is a recurring creative partner. The result is a highly expressive, emotional yet authentic music video.
The cinematography of Blue is drenched in a beautifully sinister atmosphere reminiscent of scenes from Ingmar Bergmann, Andrei Tarkovsky and Lars von Trier. Bondarenko’s distinct filming style and long cuts leave plenty of room for visual interpretation.
The video was shot entirely in nature. Kyrill is dressed in a black suit and tie, a sharp contrast with the desolate natural landscapes which surround him. We see Kyrill walking through fields, forests scattered with dead trees, up dunes, until reaching a desolate beach. There, he performs the main choreography for the chorus (“You don’t have to be sure, just take it slow I am here”) submerged in waist deep water against an ominous night sky.
Kyrill – Blue from Gleb Bondarenko on Vimeo.
Single
Blue is the latest single by indie-pop artist Kyrill Hartog (stage name Kyrill). The song deals with the ups and downs of a relationship — passing through stages of attraction and rejection, from hot to cold, from red to blue (“First time I feel the fear of this red turning blue”).
Blue is a genre-blending song. At the start a powerful drumbeat, reminiscent of a beating heart, immediately hooks the listener in. Kyrill’s piercing voice sets the tone with the memorable line: “Can you catch me? I’m falling for you.” His vocals float above an ensemble of cleverly arranged instruments — moog synths and a Rhoades piano are complemented by an funky Hoffner bass line and surf rock guitar riffs.
Choreography
Rather than go for a typical music video approach involving playbacking, Kyrill chose a more abstract form of expression for Blue: contemporary dance. Working with Belgian-British choreographer Victoria Kennett, they developed a choreography that returns with each repetition of the chorus — a blend of fragile and powerful movements to complement the song’s paradoxical theme.
Team
Written by — Kyrill Hartog
Produced, arranged & mixed by — Pablo Cantu
Mastered by — Philip Shaw
Producer — Kyrill Hartog
Director — Gleb Bondarenko
Choreographer — Victoria Kennett
Stylist — Olga Reutova
Post production — Gleb Bondarenko
