Amir Motlagh

MIRS - Fall (birds)

Artist: MIRS
Song: Fall (birds)
Album: Spin Cycle

Director: Chris Castillo + Amir Motlagh
www.amirmotlagh.com
Produced by ANIMALS

Vamp: Samantha Robinson

Special thanks:
Sean Gillane (moth animation)
Gabe Pagtama (gaffer/grip)
Abe Pagtama
Rey Deegan
Rory Roach

MIRS is featured in the upcoming movie Los Angeles 7
http://youtu.be/suFLPNPMtD4

More information on MIRS and to purchase or download Spin Cycle:
www.mirsmusic.com
www.mirs.bandcamp.com
www.soundcloud.com/​mirs
www.insound.com/​Spin-Cycle-CD-MIRS/​P/​INS92427/​
itunes.apple.com/​us/​album/​spin-cycle-ep/​id405148227

Lyrics:

I want to sit outside tonight
taken in all the air from everywhere

Actually I want to hide tonight
blanket in all the cold inside my heart

Why do you treat me so bad
Is it because you think I’m wrong
because the birds want to eat your little bones

Why do you treat me so bad
Is it because you think I’m wrong
because the moths want to to eat your arms

I’ve driven down this road in the moonlight
I’ve seen all those peculiar sites
Makes we want to run, I want to get away from everyone

Its another night in the frozen cold
I’m a beast, I’m a lost soul (2x)

Free me so I can go (so I can go)
Hate me so I can go (so I can go)
Use me so I can go (so I can go)
Kill me so I can go (so I can go)

Running running running running (repeat)

written by Amir Motlagh (MIRS) © 2010

© 2011 ANIMALS

 

 

KHOOBI release along with the ANIMALS slate.

With a block of time set, and some good luck in the form of music licensing and decision making, it seems that I can finally release Khoobi before the month of June is over.

My plan involves a straight to web release under a CC copyright.  This means that you will be free to download it, show it to your friends  and even screen it (as long as you hit me up first).  I've not yet decided if it should be under the remix able license yet, but maybe?

Curators, if you are interested in screening the film, please contact first.  Since this is a non-commercial release, you must first get permission son.

The official date has not been decided yet, maybe I'll slip it under you while you sleep.

This is the first of several ANIMALS collaborative projects I will be releasing this year, with the climax being my next feature film (Reza the Camel) which is in development at the moment.

In other news, I'm featured in the next issue of DNA Recordz Magazine, which highlights the work of the next generation of Diaspora artist.  Here is a photo from the shoot.

DNA Recordz, Amir Motlagh

 

MIRS "Spring (bombs)" music video

This is the just released music video (first of four) for the track Spring (bombs) of the MIRS Spin Cycle ep.  Usually, I don't go into the behind the scenes stuff, but I do want to frame this, so that it has some contextual backdrop to work from.  Initially, the video was going to be some elaborate live action piece, with some "familiar face" as the lead.  But the production was endlessly getting pushed back, weeks and weeks with no end in sight.

Now, at the same time, I had been thinking of another visual treatment, one that I had always considered more central and "authentic", but was hesitant to follow through because of this larger scale production which was already in movement, and also for the very fact that this idea lacked so called production value.

But instead of delaying yet again, and in reference to this track in particular being at times labeled as Chillwave (a genre that I was never fully aware of when I was recording this) I decided to trash the production, and go with my more honest instinct.  The general trends in music videos now(especially in these genres) is the feeling or mood of nostalgia.  But usually as it applies only in meta feeling, not in actuality, since most of these musicians weren't even born during the visual time clock that the images represent.  And the other type of nostalgia based music video of late is the home-movie aesthetics but with a clear cut narrative, rendering it to skillful artifice and craftsmanship. (ie: Mark Ronsons' I Need Somebody to Love Me" video).

So, given these distinctions, I wanted to cut of the oxygen to those particular forms of nostalgic pandering, and so I came up with this.  This is actual footage, taken many years ago, at the second renaissance of break dancing.  It includes myself, and several of my friends, when we were in a crew.  The only narration is the actual "session".  Pairing it up to the music, it renders the scene wholly different, and in my opinion, gives the music its own unqiue breathing space as well.  

News that is moments motivated.

Things that are happening now.  Right now.

1.  WHALE is now on Vimeo, Youtube and Dailymotion for streaming.  In fact, you can watch it from the comfort of this website.  You can also still purchase a DVD because hardware is more valuable then bytes.

2.  The interview I did last year for VOA's Shabahang show (The Late Edition) is now available to watch here.  The shorter version is also available on Youtube.

3.  MIRS is coming to Pandora.

3.  I did several interviews regarding MIRS.  When and if they go live, you can see it here.

4.  Insound is going to stock some of those limited MIRS CD's.  

5.  Khoobi (are you ok) is finished and awaiting some music clearance.  More infor coming real soon.

Khoobi (are you ok)

Slated as the first AYA release of 2011, Khoobi (are you ok) is at the tail end of post-production.  The picture is locked, and we just started the online edit (motion graphics, sound design, etc).  I've been blessed with an amazing team that I'm incredibly indebted too.  And a new member just joined, alleviating my final trepidations.

They all shall be named in the next update.

Looking at a May/June release, although, if I were to deliver it to the web first and forego the film festival route, I would predict a March release.

It's is a tricky world to navigate these days, but don't worry, I'll figure it out.

As for "what its about", well, just wait a bit.  Why spoil the fun.  I can say one thing with certainty; that in fact, I got my father to do old school hand drawn animation in one of the sequences.

Best
AM