From his basement recording studio in the small town of Issaquah, WA outside Seattle, Brian Fennell writes and records songs under the name SYML, which means 'simple' in Welsh.
With a new video for his latest single 'Body', lifted from his January EP 'In My Body', SYML waxes lyrical about the clip.
What is the meaning behind your single 'Body' and how does it relate to the music video?
[SYML] 'Body' is a desperate awakening to the reality that we all have internal battles. It’s about what we do with that realisation. Either we continue to stay in that battle or we let it go for something, or someone, better. The video captures two bodies caught in that struggle separately, which is what unifies them.
Who did you work with to create yet another truly moving video clip?
I was lucky to work with Gavin Michael Booth, who wrote and directed the video for 'Where’s My Love'. He is an incredible talent and dives into understanding where my head is at and the story I am hoping my songs will tell.
How did the concept of the video come about initially?
All credit to Gavin. It amazes me how he can conceptualise a story and translate that into incredibly powerful visuals. It’s a talent I don’t have.
Were you present for the shoot or did you leave it all up to the filmmakers?
Gavin and his crew shot the video in LA over the course of a few days. I wish I could have been there.
If any, who and what were the influences for this music video?
The director would give a better answer than me, but I know we have a shared fondness for 'Black Mirror' and other sci-fi themed stories.
How far in the distant future do you imagine the video is set in?
The 'not so distant' future. Honestly, that’s what I think is so powerful about shows like 'Black Mirror'. These things could be happening now, which is as frightening as it is beautiful.
At the end of the clip the viewer is left hanging. What do you like to think happens after the lights go out?
I like to think that the humans had the robot lovers destroyed because they couldn’t stand a thing that shouldn’t be sentient, become sentient and capable of something like love or longing. But that’s just me.
