Textual Analysis - DJ Fresh: Louder

Analysing Music Videos: DJ Fresh Louder
The music video I will be analysing is “louder” produced by upcoming electro artist“DJ Fresh”. The Dubstep/Drum&Bass track released in 2011 is an uplifting, energizing and most certainly exhilarating song. Accompanied by the amazing vocals of Sian Evans, the words “higher, faster, stronger & louder” is sung throughout to strengthen and provide a general uplifting feel to the song. The music video is opened with a panning-establishing-shot of a silhouette. The silhouette is evidently a beach, as palm trees, coastal buildings and most importantly a sunrise (shimmering off the sea) can be seen. This gives off the impression it is a hot, exotic location (potentially Miami). The genre of music matches this hard hitting video (one of Andrew Goodwin’s forms and conventions). Another one is that the music follows the pace and editing is synced with the audio. 


What exactly makes music become Drum and bass and does it have to have those elements? Some of the elements that one can use to describe drum and bass music are electronic, syncopated, intense and even erratic at times. Although Drum and Bass (D&B) music can also be made without the use of digital instruments and has been performed with acoustic instruments as well, it is predominantly a form of electronic music. Some might even claim that it has heavy Jazz influences in percussive elements as well as the melodic qualities. It is a high energy music that often gives the listener an adrenaline rush and heightens the senses at certain times and at others can have a meditative effect. The sub genres are so varied that one unique sound is quite impossible to nail down. To the average first time listener, the sounds of multiple D&B songs can be very unique from one another. What are some of the most commonly used elements in Drum and Bass music? Some of the more familiar elements often found within the music itself can be quick tempos and strong syncopated beats with rapid snare hits and intense sonic sounds coming and going in the mix. Once again the music is varied so it does not always contain these elements but quite a few tracks listed under this genre use the elements mentioned. Complete description is hard to pin down because of diversity within the genre of Drum bass music. When did D&B music get created and is it still as popular as it was? D&B is thought to be conceived in the early 1990s. The underground club scene started to bring to life a new electronic type of music affectionately called Rave music. This music brought together beats and sounds that had not been combined before to create a new exciting sound.

After a series of general “filler” shots including close ups of eyes, and buildings, a female roller-skater is shown in slow-motion. Although the close up shots are of various characters within the video, we can still note a strong relation to Andrew Goodwin who states that close-ups are used to promote the artist and reinforce the artist’s status within the video. As she skates along a pavement the use of slow-motion (Potentially by 50%) is used to over extenuate her movements and urban clothing. In addition every 8 bars (1/8th of a full verse) the shot is sped up to synchronise the woman’s skating movements with the uplifting melody. For approximately 40 seconds we watch her skate amongst tourists and general public (whome appear to be oblivious to her presence!). A second roller skater is introduced at this point (similarly dressed in urban/retro outfits). They meet up together and skate in sync which is accompanied by a series of well executed dance moves. The visuals on the screen have no resemblance to the lyrics nor beat being played. However the video editor has rather intelligently accomplished a link via the use of synchronized cuts and slow-motion. When discussing synchronised cuts I refer to the cuts used between a number of shots, synchronized (in time) with the tempo structure and beat of the music.


Throughout the entire music video we continue to watch an irrelevantly series of shots, however as a young, teenage viewer I would strongly note were aesthetically pleasing to watch. Accompanying the two females skate where a collection of slow motion panning shots which showed break dancing and BMX tricks (which may I add were also in sync with the tracks melody). The so called “spontaneous” and “randomness” of the collection of shots could be appealing to a young (teenage) unisex audience whom may relate to such activities. I personally will consider using the technique of simply ‘cool’ and aesthetically pleasing (well filmed) shots within my music video.