Writer, director and activist Bexy Cameron explores worldbuilding and speaks to cultural visionaries in the music sphere in her latest documentary film for Amplify, “escape into: music.”
The first in Amplify’s series of documentaries focusing on “worldbuilding,” the episode takes a look at how artists and musical pioneers create fandoms and build audiences, ranging from the interdisciplinary masterpieces of Bjork to the zeitgeist-capturing “Girl Power” of the Spice Girls.
“Soundscapes can take us from the streets of Compton, into hotels on the other side of the planet or into political landscapes,” says Cameron. “Music worldbuilding happens through communities, spaces, through the polymathic musicians and composers. It travels through the ether into our bedrooms, into muddy festival fields.”
Delving into diverse topics “escape into: music” discusses the folklore around nightclubs such as Berlin’s infamous Berghain, the politically galvanising music videos of Childish Gambino, the avant-garde compositions and AV immersions of Aphex Twin to the dual opportunity and challenge that AI presents to future music worldbuilders.
The film features interviews with cultural creators and commentators including Bradley Zero - DJ, producer and founder of Rhythm Section; Femi Adeyemi - founder of NTS Radio, DubLabs - executive director Alejandro Cohen, Simon Denby - co-founder of promoters Percolate and Electronic Music Director at Outernet and Noctis Magazine Director Leoni Blue-Fleming.
Jonathan Emmins, Founder + Global CEO of Amplify enthuses: “Music is one of, if not the most significant and universal driving force across culture. From Bowie to Spice Girls, worldbuilding is a tool that allows musicians to spread their art beyond what we hear. And the visionary worlds these artists create can’t be confined or contained. From Pharell, creatively steering luxury leader LVMH to Rihanna creating the world’s biggest beauty and make-up brands with Fenty and from Travis Scott's appointment as the Strategic Creative Director of PlayStation to Taylor Swift’s political-cultural movement, music is the starting point for many of most influential worldbuilders. Amplify is full of musicians, DJs and music lovers - we’re starting our worldbuilding series with the most universally accessible cultural stream.”
“worldbuilding - escape into: music” will be followed by seven further episodes in the worldbuilding series, focusing on areas including brands, fashion, film, sport, gaming and technology.