Haitian female rapper Kanis releases the music video to her latest single “Oublier,” off her French extended play album “REFLEXION,” directed by Vanessa Beletic who’s on the roster of production company Rattling Stick U.S.
Each song’s theme correlates to one of the body’s chakras, with “Oublier” representing the Anahata chakra (heart chakra). The music video’s color variation denotes the theme within an aptly greenwashed set as the artist melds intricate French rap with choir tones to the echo of “Oublier”–translated from French as “to forget”–describing heartbreak and the subsequent search for hope. A soon-to-be-released B&W version further punctuates the theme with haunting introspectiveness.
Half of all proceeds for sales of the single and its merchandise will be donated to Haitian earthquake relief efforts, in the wake of the 7.2 magnitude quake that rocked the island nation on August 14.
Kanis is a Haitian-American recording artist with strong ties to her native community and the international Haitian Diaspora. With a desire to disprove the stereotypes and misconceptions about Haiti, her lyrics reveal a different side of her homeland, one that reflects its creativity and beauty.
Beletic is a close friend of the rapper. The two connected over their mutual love of Haiti and eagerness to portray the stories of female artists.
CreditsProduction Vanessa Beletic, director; Joe JD Butler, DP; Johnny Hernandez, producer; Evan Black, production designer; Oz Nieves, art assistant; Jenny Haapala, wardrobe stylist; Renee Old, wardrobe assistant; Vanessa Garoute, hair & makeup. Postproduction The Den Editorial Kate Owen, editor; Gabe Sanchez, colorist; Ryan Curtis, post executive producer.
Top Spot of the Week: EHRAC, Animation Studio NOMINT Depict Life “In Limbo” As Families Search For Loved Ones
This animated film titled In Limbo depicts the journey of a heroic woman protagonist representing the countless families in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe (where Chechnya is situated) searching for their forcibly disappeared loved ones. Utilizing theatrical elements, the film highlights the unnatural disruption caused by enforced disappearances and delves into the profound trauma these families endure. It emphasizes their long battles with the domestic authorities as they seek answers. The film also underscores the vital role of community support in helping these families cope and continue their fight for answers, serving as a compelling call to action for justice and human rights.
Through intimate storytelling, In Limbo raises awareness of the ongoing uncertainty that leaves families in a perpetual state of limbo, unable to find closure.
Directed by Afterman--the animation duo consisting of Tsvetelina Zdraveva and Jerred North--and created and produced by London-based animation studio NOMINT, In Limbo was commissioned by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC).
In a joint statement, Zdraveva and North shared, “Our film takes place on a theater stage, highlighting how such tragedies are far removed from ordinary life,” they continued. “The stage is circular, resembling an artificial, perpetually spinning obstacle course, with a target—the red tail lights—just within sight yet never within reach, symbolizing the family’s never-ending quest for justice.”
“We used a limited primary color palette to contrast the two worlds all families are pulled between. Minimalist compositions of starkly silhouetted characters and environments create the ominous atmosphere of a deeply painful and... Read More