Electronic- pop artist Barrett Crake has channelled his inner plant dad in his vibrant new official music video for 'You Got Me Like', which celebrates the temptations of making bad decisions.
The project is a full-fledged collaboration of a team of diverse creatives, including director and choreographer Matt Cady (who has worked with the likes of Katy Perry and Madonna), producer Ricky Palomino, singer / songwriter Bonnie Dymond and dancers Balta Monkiki, Marlon Pelayo, and Hannah Hawkins.
Sonically inspired by iconic electro-pop artists such as Robyn, Carly Rae Jepsen and Zedd whilst also looking to artist like Lauv and Taylor Swift for relatable songwriting, 'You Got Me Like' is the ultimate danceable anthem, with lyrics that represent pain, growth, nostalgia and joy all at once. It encapsulates the feeling of being stuck in the tangle created by making impulsive decisions, albeit fun experiences in the moment, but comes with its consequences.
We had the chance to speak with Barrett as part of our Get To Know series...
Introduce yourself and tell us something interesting about you!
"Hi! Barrett Crake here… I grew up in Texas, but have family all over the world. Most are in the UK but I have lots of family in Canada too. Also, I’ve always been a big nerd and aside from music, I adore video games, Disney, and Harry Potter."
Where are you from, and do you feel your surroundings have impacted your sound?
"Growing up in a small conservative town was challenging for my young gay soul… but thankfully I had music from Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and Britney Spears to show me the way. The local dance music radio station played Kylie on repeat, so her early influence solidified my primal drive to get to the clubs and dance! That's what made me fall in love with music."
How would you describe your music to someone who’s never listened to you before?
"I call it “California electro neon pop”… Meaning electro pop with a chiller vibe. I like to use big synths, electric guitars, and find ways to make my songs hooky as F***! That's always my goal."
What’s your earliest musical memory?
"I used to listen to my parents' record of 'Let It Be' by The Beatles on repeat. I must have been 3 or 4 years old. I would dance on the couch to it! I loved it so much and remember fantasizing about taking the record to my pre-Kindergarten class to play it in the hopes that I could get everyone to hold hands and sing it with me!"
Who are your biggest inspirations?
"The Beatles for sure… their infectious pop melodies and relatable storytelling created the foundations of what is now modern pop music. Kylie Minogue is also a massive inspiration thanks to her joyous spirit and fabulous pop songs. Elton John is also a personal hero of mine. He’s the one who made me want to learn to play the piano."
Have you got an overall favourite moment of your career so far?
"I keep thinking about all the chats I’ve had with fans over Instagram Live. At the beginning of quarantine, I decided I would do an IG Live at least once per week. I’ve kept that promise so far and now have a dedicated group of fans who show up every week. My absolute favorite moment was when a fan filmed an entire dance music video to my song “Love Knot” with her cat and sent it to me. It meant so much that she would do that and it’s AMAZING!! (It’s on my IGTV if you wanna see!)"
Tell us a little about your new track 'You Got Me Like'!
"It’s easily my most energetic song, and one that I almost saved for someone else! I wrote it about a relationship that I knew was a bad idea at the time, but decided to go along with it anyway. It’s funny how these low moments from the past can be re-framed with beauty through art in my mind. In a way, the song helped me heal this part of my past."
What’s the reaction been like so far?
"It’s been fantastic! I’m thrilled that everyone seems to vibe with my new direction of the style of my videos!"
Do you have a favourite lyric from the track?
"Ooh yes, there’s a few! I love playing with the back-and-forth that our brains do when we’re trying to make a decision. So I’m proud of the lyrics
“Are you busy tonight? / Maybe later I… / never mind!”
Then I continue on,
“I just got to prove you’re not the one… so what are you doing tonight?”
It shows how stubborn we can be in our own minds and convince ourselves that the decision we’re making is for the best even when we fight it!"
It’s accompanied by a music video - what was the concept behind the visuals?
"I’ve always dreamed of making a dance music video – and this song required movement! We’re telling the story of the song through the eyes of me witnessing messy relationships from the other side. I decide to simply hang out with my plants because they’re much easier to take care of haha! I’m so proud of the choreography and visuals I worked on with the director and choreographer, Matt Cady."
Finally, what are your plans for the future?
"I have tons of songs in the works that I have written during this quarantine year. I’m planning to release more singles next year as well and more and more music videos! I also just began live streaming mini concerts through the App Sessions Live platform, which has been so fun. Performing for fans from around the world without having to leave my house has been incredible. I have plans to grow these online shows too!"
'You Got Me Like' is out now.
Listen to the track HERE @barrettcrake
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