Serious Klein is no stranger to creating hypnotic head-trips with his music video output, but the German rapper's latest visual is in a different class entirely. The Obvious Seems Oblivious Too is a gorgeously shot short film – utilizing tracks from last year's album You Should've Known – that effectively functions as a showcase for Serious' jaw-dropping rap skills.
Working with directing duo SNTFLUT behind the camera, the film offers a surrealist take on Serious' life and creative process, depicting him in working in the studio (in one incredible long take) in addition to trippier tableaus that evoke a cosmic light show a lá 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Check out the visual's premiere in the player below, and read on for a discussion with both Serious Klein and SNTFLUT on the inspirations behind their dazzling project.
Tell us a bit about the concept for this short film - what were some of your initial inspirations?
Serious Klein: We all have to deal with real life problems, and that’s something that gets suppressed in our daily routines. You know the kind of feeling when so many things are happening around you and the people you love and influence you the most are making decisions that affect you and your life? I observed a lot and ignored it at the same time, so I piled it all up until there was an overload of thoughts and issues I could no longer ignore, so I’d say it was about time I addressed those things.
SNTFLUT: With this film, we are trying to show how the past is changing the way we craft. Which experiences change our future and therefore the way the artist’s performance? The songs subtly deal with these aspects among others. The cinematic examination and execution allows the audience a metaphorical insight into the life of Serious Klein. Showing the bad but also the happy moments and how those connect through music. Through the close examination of the terms, a structure can be developed that leans closely on the classical structure of a drama. The life, the creation and the suffering of the artist are observed.
It's particularly intriguing to see scenes from the recording booth, what informed your decision to include that?
Serious Klein: Ras and me go way back. He has a big influence on my thoughts and emotions because I express them through music most of the time. We’ve become brothers throughout the years. I can be like “yo I got this title in mind” and he will know exactly what to do. A lot of times he’s even the one who comes up with an idea by just observing my mood, and I wanted to show that.
SNTFLUT: The creative process is presented as transparent as it could be. Through this, we ty to give the viewer a deeper insight into the life of Serious Klein. Nothing you would normally get. So we wanted to show Serious in the booth performing. That’s the reason why this shot is shown in full length without a cut. We dive into his musical process. The viewer becomes more of a participant of the creative process.
The voice over that closes the film out is another standout moment, can you elaborate on its message and your decision to present it as such?
Serious Klein: It’s the same voice that guides me through the album, if you’ve noticed. An inner voice that is calling for my attention and addresses my rights and wrongs, my conscience, God. The message is simple because it doesn’t just want to be “heard,” it wants to be “understood.”
What was one of the most difficult parts about bringing the project together? The least difficult?
SNTFLUT: Somehow the most difficult and the least difficult part was the same thing. Getting so many people to work on something like this is hard and easy. It’s hard because such a project is not about money, so many people won’t get fully paid. But in the same way, everyone was motivated to do their best because of the process of crafting art. So we asked ourselves the question: how do the honor this effort? For us there was clearly one way – giving everyone a setting, where they can be as creative as they could be.
What do you hope viewers will take away from seeing the film?
Serious Klein: I hope the viewer will get a different glimpse of the album and they’ll eventually listen to understand.
SNTFLUT: That there is always a way of forgiveness. That you can put yourself and everything you got into your crafting. That somehow time is a valuable thing that can be used and that it’s nothing you are used by. The clue is: every little piece is connected.
For more of our premieres, take a listen to Hoodrich Pablo Juan's "Shoebox."
