New Life (Nemophilist Mix) by Geoff Doner

“New Life” Music Video Release by Geoff Doner
Psychotronic music video explodes inner and outer walls of bias

New Life

Trapped in this city of a million dark forces
Wrapped tight around the solar plexus
Feeling heavy every day
Seems there is no other way
Gotta keep on top
to keep from going under

I take my leave of this world
Into the mountains
To reform and recharge
Find my seat again
Then back into this world
To this role that I’ve unfurled
Wake Up!
Action with intention

What am I doing and why?
Question everything
What is behind this facade?
Is there anything?
Throw off the sandbags
And unscrew the jacks cuz
This walls gonna fall
DOWN!

My eyes light up in the forest
Carry back that spark to the city

In the time of the tyrannical order
Reigning terror south of the border
White power brutalize
Black, Indigenous lives
Wake UP!
The same thing happens here!

Rise above the dark heavy forces
Use the powerful weapon of our voices
Speak up Sing out and ROAR!
Dark forces we will break you down!

My eyes light up in the forest
Carry back that spark to the city

Written by Geoff Doner
2018
Timeless sweeping panoramas contrast claustrophobic time-bending vignettes in “New Life”, the first video from album “Love More Real” by Geoff Doner.

“New Life” is inspired by Geoff’s personal journey of unlearning and interrogating the ways he benefits from systemic white privilege. Through the song and video, he explores private and public reckoning, when inescapable truths alter our reality and understanding can begin.

In facing our inner personal demons, walls that have hidden and protected us from painful truths are bound to crumble, freeing us to see ourselves and others with more empathy. Today, global pandemic is a backdrop to revelations of institutional racism and emergent truths of Canada's violence against Indigenous people. Erected by architects and managers of colonialism and capitalism, walls meant to divide and diminish our collective social fabric are being toppled by citizens everywhere.

Working remotely during the pandemic, long-time creative collaborators Geoff Doner, Andrea Battersby and Mikela Jay joined forces to realize a visual journey that compliments the frank yet sensitive musical message in “New Life”.

The video cycles through alternate cinematic realities featuring “The Nemophilist”, a fluent haunter of the woods, moving without hindrance through lush landscapes, taking time to be in relationship with nature. Their dynamic energy is grounded in self-reflection. Counter to the Nemophilist’s contemplative dance across internal and external vistas are “The Automatons”, diminished figures struggling to remain connected to their humanity in the face of imposed restriction and a hostile environment.

Performing as ”The Nemophilist”, Director Mikela Jay embedded her character in the abundant forest landscapes of her island home in unceded territory off the West Coast of BC. Taking a DIY approach for a decidedly ‘psychotronic’ viewing experience, Mikela pairs her love of black and white movies from the silent era and arthouse films by the likes of Maya Deren, with her own modern minimalist stylings to create a fundamentally contemporary feel.

From their home and BPL art collective headquarters in downtown Toronto, Geoff and Andrea captured themselves performing as “The Automatons”. Drawing on influences like 1920’s classic film Metropolis and iconic punk and goth stylings from the 1980’s, Andrea designed makeup and costuming that blur vintage and contemporary sensibilities. Throughout the video, manually-operated kinetic lighting animates shadowy apparitions that represent true horrors being revealed globally and locally. A pop-up book aesthetic suggests innocence and provides an entry point to reconcile with difficult realities.

In “New Life” we are reminded of the restorative power of nature and the intrinsic value of self-reflection and creative expression in facing our personal barriers and confronting oppressive systems.

CREDITS
Music & Lyrics Written and Produced by - Geoff Doner
Director & Editor - Mikela Jay
Art Direction - Andrea Battersby
Performances by - Geoff Doner, Andrea Battersby, Mikela Jay
Produced by - BPL
Mastering - Wilson Acevedo

Purchase Love More Real album:
https://www.bpl.productions/geoff-doner-music-2

Видео New Life (Nemophilist Mix) by Geoff Doner канала ArtHouseTV