tendai - Not Around [Video]

Built upon a menacing beat and ominous soundscapes are tentative lyrics that form the basis for the debut release by East London’s tendai. With echoing piano throughout, ‘Not Around’ has an exhilarating ambiance, gradually building in a dramatic manner before it’s abrupt ending two minutes in.

Though short in length, this captivating single shines light on newcomer tendai, signed under 0207 Def Jam. The track indicates the 21-year-old singer not only offers huge potential, ambition and talent with perceptive lyrics and expert production but also brings a fresh and invigorating sound into the UK music scene. ‘Not Around’ captures the light and the darkness often experienced by young lovers as they fleet through the stages of their emotions.

“You should hear the way they talk about love, it’s supposed to be magic // I think I might be the only one who don’t understand it // Maybe I'm just a little too young, a little too dumb to teach // Or maybe I’m just a little too strong to tell you I’ve got a weakness,” sings Tendai.

Having written, performed and produced the track, Tendai exudes a confidence and energy I’m sure we wish we all had at 21. The accompanying video directed by Hector Dockrill, mirrors the intense mood of the song. Shot in a monochrome colour palette, we see Tendai singing alone on the balcony of a building before the camera pans out to reveal the apocalyptic scenes around him, epitomising the feelings of isolation and despair heard throughout the track.

The city lights don’t shine when you’re not around...

You can check out the video below:

CREDITS

Director - Hector Dockrill

Producer - Bruno Loureiro

Executive Producer - Nnena Nwakodo

Video Commissioner - Nicola Sheppard

Styling - Ade Udoma 

Offline Producer - Kirsty Oldfield

Editor - Rich Woolway

Colour Producer - Oliver Withworth

Colourist -  Jason Wallis

VFX - Martin Kolejak

Kiev Crew

Local Producer - Dasha deriagina 

DOP - Ilya Maksimenko

1st AD - Kristina Ilyina 

Art Department Assistant - Anton

SFX - Vadim Lysak Tornado 

Location Manager - Victor Shava 

Stylist - Margarita Shekel 

Wardrobe Assistants - Anna Krivoshapko + Andrew Bib

MUA - Katerina Makimova 

Gaffer - Max Ruban 

1st AC - Serge Panteleev 

Sound - Andrew Vaskovskiy 

PM - Denis Kumeiko 

PA - Alex Vashkolup 

Chaperone - Varya Mudrak 

Catering - Miguel Slusarenko 

Head of Transport - Sergey Lisovsky