by martina rexrode
photo courtesy of brooklyn juliana
Brooklyn Juliana is gathering fans like a seasoned professional after the release of his latest single “Thinking About You” and its accompanying music video. Directed by himself, the music video is something of a passion project for Juliana to convey a summer romance plagued by common communication problems of the 21st century. He talked with Unclear about this video and hinted to what fans might expect from future releases.
Congratulations on the music video for your single “Thinking About You!” What has it been like in the days leading up to this release?
Brooklyn: “The past couple of months have just been so wild. There have been so many happy little accidents and working with everyone has just been a complete joy. I’m really so excited for this one and I can’t believe it’s finally here.”
Before “Thinking About You” had you ever directed before? If not, what was it like to direct your own music video?
Brooklyn: “Yeah, I’ve directed all my videos because it’s a creative outlet for me. But ‘Thinking About You’ was really different because I got very, very hands-on with the technical stuff and working closely with my crew. I spent a lot of time studying my favorite movies done on super 35mm film, then we came up with the treatment, and I’m so happy with it.”
How were you able to visualize the theme of a summertime romance within the video?
Brooklyn: “I felt like this project needed to be something that could stand the test of time and hold up years down the road. The last frame in the music video was lifted from an old video game, Final Fantasy X, which I have on my Nintendo Switch. Anyone who’s played that game will know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the two main characters embracing each other in a lake — it’s absolutely gorgeous and I thought that was the perfect image of love, so it’s just something I wanted to bring to life through the song and the visual.”
Where did you find inspiration for the direction? Are there any artists whose music videos you admire?
Brooklyn: “When I’m making music videos, I’m not usually watching too many other artists’ videos. I almost exclusively find inspiration in movies and video games. I always appreciate when the visual builds on the story of the song and it’s a surprisingly difficult thing to do, but that’s just something I love.”
Does this single give fans any hints about what they can expect from the sound of future releases?
Brooklyn: “Yes and no — we’re playing coy here. This song and visual was meant to be Brooklyn without any bells and whistles. It’s so simple and straightforward while also being really strong and good. But my fans can expect me to pick up my guitar a little bit more, write a little bit more, and deliver more of the authenticity that you’re seeing here.”
How has your style and sound evolved since the start of your career?
Brooklyn: “In the beginning of my career I really felt like I had to meet certain expectations. But through my experience with my fans and the support they’ve given me, I’ve learned that what they want is for me to be, well... me. And that’s what this song and video is all about. It’s me without the bells and whistles and if you can get on board with that, I think you’re going to really love what comes next.”
What lessons did you take from your K-Pop days into how you carry yourself as an artist now?
Brooklyn: “Just about the only thing that I really agreed with when it came to making music in K-Pop was the uncompromising production value. There’s a lot of passion that goes on behind the scenes when it comes to making music and the visual products associated with it. That’s something I carry forward, obviously. It looks and feels very, very different here because there’s so many things that I’m not doing and replacing them with things that I think are more authentic to who I am.”
Do you hope to direct more music videos in the future?
Brooklyn: “Yeah, I love directing as a creative outlet. Film and cinema is something that I just appreciate so much as a hobbyist. I pretty much quote movies all day long. But I’d also love to explore the idea of working with other directors. My cinematographer on this project really helped on set and took the reins whenever I wasn’t able to because I was in front of the camera a lot. And on top of that, of course, I had my assistant director — it was really just such a collaborative effort. And so that’s kind of where I’d love to keep going with this.”