Laura Gibson has revealed a new video directed by Derrick Belcham for ‘Not Harmless’ – from her new album Empire Builder released today.
On the song Laura says “In very simple terms, ‘Not Harmless’ is about standing up for myself: defining womanhood on my own terms” Laura explains. “It may be a critique of social expectations, but more so it’s a critique of my own behavior and insecurities. I must add that I have always always wanted to write a song in which I was the villain, to hold that sort of agency, to reimagine myself in my most self-serving no-fucks-given form. So lines like, “I’ll be the thief you forgot to chase, the bramble sprung back in the hero’s face” gave me great pleasure to write.”
Director Derrick Belcham describes the video as: “an attempt to capture a multi-angle viewpoint of the various aspects of the singer’s insecurities in the music video environment. Each of the dancers embodies a specific discomfort or complex that raises its head during the process of being on camera, exposing oneself through songwriting and ‘being’ in the world in general. Their actions reflect the shifting battle that an ego faces when the spotlight is turned on it.”
The album features a stellar cast including friends: guitarist/bassist Dave Depper (Death Cab for Cutie, Menomena), drummer/percussionist Dan Hunt (Neko Case), and composer/violinist Peter Broderick. Other contributors include Nate Query of The Decemberists and vocalist Alela Diane.
Empire Builder is released today. Order it via Amazon
Laura Gibson live dates:
Apr 22 BE Brussels – Huis 23@AB
Apr 23 NL Utrecht – Tivoli Vredenburg Cloud
Apr 25 UK Manchester – Soup Kitchen
Apr 26 UK London – Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
Apr 27 FR Paris – Point Ephemere* w/Grant-Lee Phillips
Apr 28 NL Amsterdam – Tuinzaal, Paradiso Noord
Apr 29 NL Nijmegen – Marienburg Church
Apr 30 BE Gent – Trefpunt
May 01 BE Lessines – Roots and Roses Festival
May 02 DE Berlin – Kantine am Berghain
May 03 DE Leipzig – Werk 2
May 05. AT Graz – Postgarage
May 06 AT Vienna – Haus Der Musik
May 07 CH Dornbirn – Conrad Sohm
Sept 02 – 04 UK End of the Road Festival – Dorset