Tom Odell reveals how he got Kevin Spacey to run up an infinite number of stairs in the video for 'Here I Am'
'We wanted to continue the story of the previous videos we’ve made but with a new character'
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Your support makes all the difference.It feels like Tom Odell's come back out of nowhere after his much-hyped debut, but really he never left.
Spending two years since Long Way Down's release on a fairly solid spate of gigs, he's since put out its follow-up, Wrong Crowd, which made it to #2 over summer in the UK Official Chart.
His music video for new single 'Here I Am', released last week, stars Kevin Spacey and sees him climb an apparently infinite flight of stairs. It's simple, as often the best things are, and strangely haunting.
Odell sent us a few notes on how the video came about:
"As a songwriter, I’m fascinated by how music videos can enhance songs. The pictures used can completely change how the song sounds.
"I guess in the same way film composers make music to influence and emphasise scenes in films, making music videos we can do the reverse and are able to use pictures to accentuate lyrics, make them cut more or perhaps completely twist their meaning.
"It's incredible fun, and working with George Belfield on the videos we’ve made for this album has been one of the most exciting creative relationships I’ve ever had.
"George and I started planning the 'Here I Am' video around 4 months ago. We wanted to continue the story of the previous videos we’ve made but with a new character.
"I think partly because we were sick of pretending that I’m any good at acting, but also we saw it as a chance to work with a brilliant actor. Kevin was our dream man for the job. His performance floored me. He added a layer and depth to my lyrics I did not expect, and I love the video we’ve made.
"You know when you see a stranger wearing your favourite jacket in the street, you know it so well, you wear it the whole time, but it looks totally different on them, you see it in a whole new light? Well watching the ‘Here I Am’ video feels a little like that for me, I felt like I heard the words for the first time.
"He’s perfectly captured the emotion of the song but took it further than I ever could have imagined. I’m honoured to have worked with such a master of his trade. Truly honoured, and I hope I get to do it again."
Tom Odell tours the UK from November 2016 - details here
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