Calarts Alumni Release Thoughtful New Music Video

Fitz and the Tantrums new single shares commentary about the difficulties of relationships in the digital age.
CalArts alumnus Steve Jennings made his mark on the entertainment scene as director of a new music video for indie pop and neo soul band Fitz and The Tantrums’ new single: Roll Up.  The band, formed in 2008 by CalArts alumni Michael Fitzpatrick and saxophonist James King, collaborated with Jennings to produce the video, which comes on the back of the band’s self-titled album released on June 10.
The animated video from Grasshorse studios tells the story of Cupid, a cartoon version of the lead singer Fitzpatrick, whose mission is to break down the barriers between revelers looking for love.  The video, which takes place in a world populated by monsters, is interspersed with performances by co-lead vocalist Noelle Skaggs as a lonely vampire, along with the other band members Joe Karnes, James King, Jeremy Ruzumna and John Wicks.
Presenting ideas about the changing world of relationships, Fitzpatrick wanted the video to visually express the song’s lyrics about loneliness, longing and desire.  To convey the band’s sincere understanding of feeling strange and uncomfortable, for example, the video opens in a world inter-populated with people and monsters.  This divide portrays the barriers we raise between others and ourselves, the band’s representatives expressed, whether those barriers are cell phones, social networking or just being too scared to dance.  While the barriers aren’t important – the isolation and damage they cause are.
“They want their audience to know we all feel like monsters sometimes,” said Producer Kathy Buxton.
In a world of constantly and quickly evolving communication, some may feel the need to “put yourself out there” to start new relationships.  Fitzpatrick’s character is bent on bringing people together despite their attachment to isolating devices like cell phones and social media.
Fitzpatrick, who met Jennings at CalArts, wanted to collaborate with Grasshorse, which previously released an app for kids to use as an outlet to talk about issues they weren’t comfortable discussing in other ways.  Jennings repurposed assets from the smartphone app to create the animated world in Roll Up.
“It became the launching point for this video,” Jennings grinned, “a music video made of assets from a smartphone app warning people not to pay too much attention to smartphones.  It seemed meant to be.”
Fans can catch Fitz and The Tantrums live during their “Come Get Your Love” tour in the U.S.
The full schedule is available at www.fitzandthetantrums.com.  

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