Session Victim releases new music video from upcoming album NEEDLEDROP featuring San Francisco record store, Vinyl Dreams
Session Victim releases new music video featuring San Francisco record store, Vinyl Dreams
January 23, 2020
We interviewed the Hamburg-based duo Session Victim on their recent music video “Made Me Fly” with Beth Hirsch taken off the upcoming album NEEDLEDROP and their tribute to SF record store, Vinyl Dreams.
An animation of Vinyl Dreams store taken from Session Victim’s latest music video
1) Tell us about the clip, how did you come up with the idea for the video?
SV: We have been toying around with the idea of making a music video in the style of an old point & click adventure game for years, but we never knew anyone who could actually do it.
When the label introduced us to the animation artist Mike Scott, we immediately realized that he had the same love for these games and the exact same idea as us. So we said “This guy and no one else.”
2) Do you remember the first time you visited Vinyl Dreams? What was it like?
SV: We have been friends with Mike Bee for years now, I think the first time we visited his store was in 2013. We always try to do an in-store thing any time we come to the city as it’s always so much fun. Good crew and customers, a great mixer, what more can you ask for?
3) How does digging for records relate or inform your process of making music?
SV: Hmm, on several levels I would say. First from the actual sampling of music of course, taking little bits and pieces, taking them into a completely new musical context and transforming them into instruments, so to speak. Then, even above that, constantly taking in new songs and sounds, often from artists that you have never heard of before.
4) What're the best and worst things about digging in the dollar bins?
SV: The best thing? Stumbling over the illest drum break or pad sound or whatever that you hadn’t seen coming and being completely blown away instantly. And the worst, well, browsing through the 300th copy of Turbular Bells in a week maybe?
Picture by Schaaly at OYE Kreuzkoelln.
5) In the music video, the avatar produces a mixtape, an actual cassette, from samples of records and then delivers it to a crush - is that something you’ve done before? Has the art and meaning behind the mixtape been lost with the current popularity of streaming playlists?
SV: It is not a mixtape - she makes a beat and records that on a tape. But as far as mixtapes or playlists go it depends on the heart she or he puts into it, not so much on the format. And yes, of course we did record mixtapes - for girls we wanted to impress, friends, classmates, loads of mixtapes!
6) Finally, let's talk about the art direction. The video is essentially an 8-bit video game - is that a reference to something from your past and as a follow-up, who is the person playing the video game?
SV: It is 8-bit, yes - but foremost, it is a point & click adventure game - and we both loved and still enjoy this genre a lot. About the player - we don’t have anyone specific in mind here, but it would be great if some people would try some of these games out after watching the clip.
They are just so much fun!
7) We know that you come to San Francisco often. Is there a specific thing you like about the Bay Area, its music scene and people?
SV: Lot’s of things. First of all, the people - the friends we made here over the years. Then - surprise - the record stores, the pinball arcades, the palm trees - man, we can’t wait to be back!
More on Vinyl Dreams record store by Fault Radio:
This interview was edited for clarity and length
Edited by Dundee Maghen & Brennan Ko