The Artist Explains: Django Stewart - 'Burning Bridges (For Your Love)'
Emerging heartbreak-pop artist Django Stewart has revealed the kaleidoscopic music video for his debut track - ‘Burning Bridges (For Your Love)’. Directed by Sophie Muller, who has worked with the likes of Beyonce, Rihanna and more - he took a moment to talk to us about the experience.
Hey there, how are you? Your new track ‘Burning Bridges (For Your Love)’ is out now - can you tell us what the track is about?
Hello! I’m well thank you. Burning Bridges is about being in a relationship that has been dying out and being infatuated with someone else.
The video for the track was directed by Sophie Muller - who has worked with the likes of Beyonce and Rihanna, and Douglas Hart from The Jesus and Mary Chain. That such a unique combination of people - how did that come about?
Sophie actually gave me my education in film and tv growing up. She would look after me after school occasionally. I would feel very smart for watching movies like Carrie and Psycho. I was a PA on her sets in Hollywood when I was in my early twenties while songwriting in studios when I could. I have always wanted to work with her on one of my own videos. I’m such a fan. I just knew I had to ask when the time was right. I was beyond thrilled when she said Yes! Sophie and I then hung out watching tons of videos and she showed me another music video directed by Douglas Hart. It was a play on the velvet underground/Andy Warhol factory videos which I have always loved. Sophie reached out to Douglas and asked if he wanted to be a part of the project and the rest is history!
How was the experience of working with them on this video?
Everyone was so kind. I always love the atmosphere on a Sophie set. I was quite intimidated getting up to the camera though. I just kept thinking damn, she filmed ‘This is Love’ by PJ Harvey which was the most badass one take to camera performance by a single person in a music video ever. Having my friend Tyler Aubrey there who co-wrote and is featured on the track was just so much fun too. We had had the most insane summer living together in and out of Airbnb’s from Nashville to LA to NY to London. We were cracking each other up on set so much that we had to reshoot a few takes. You know those friends you can just look at and know what the other one is thinking? It was like that.. I was really blown away by the dancer Kanah Flex. Kanah and I moved so well and easily together. He made me feel so comfortable and most importantly got me to have fun with it. The lights though. That’s what did it all for me. I loved the drippiness of it all. I wanted it to feel like some queer 80s trippy romantic pop dream.
How do you feel the video connects to the song?
The video wasn’t supposed to be a literal story line. It truly is just me living my fantasy with my best friend. We worship queer icons And drag queens and I had never really been in a project where I could fully let my camp out. The song is about being infatuated with someone who isn’t your partner and your best friend basically telling you to go for it. I just wanted it to be colourful, self expressive and authentic to Tyler and my relationship and the atmosphere we inhabit as queer artists. I wanted the video to be all inclusive. The dancer Kanah is remarkable. Being autistic he had to work that much harder to make it in his industry and never gave up which is something I really admire and can relate to as me and Tylers community is made to feel lesser than also. So grateful for how it all came together. I’m very proud of all who worked on this project.
What do you hope people take from the song and the video?
I wanted to capture the feeling of intrigue and intensity that one gets when you’re really starting to fantasize about your crush. Since most of us are trapped in our humble abodes in quarantine, I think many of us have been fantasizing about the outside world and the people we miss. There is also an element about how you have to let go of old things to make way for new good things. Even when you don’t know if the new thing is going to work out yet you might just need that little nudge from a friend and a leap of faith. That is Tyler’s part in both the song and video. As for the video, it was mostly queer performance art.