Following the release of his tenth studio album False Idols earlier this year, Tricky’s just unveiled the self-directed video for LP cut ‘Is That Your Life’. The track features vocals from Francesca Belmonte, on the roster of Tricky’s new label, also named False Idols, and is a slight rework of the version that appears on the record, with producer Tony Ra teasing out some of the murkier elements lingering in the cut. As well as a first look at the video – have a watch above – we asked Tricky to fill us in on the background to the clip:
How did you come up with the story behind the video?
Tricky: When I listen to music, visuals pop into my head; when I’m planning to direct a video it seems to come with the music. Brown Punk [Tricky’s self-directed 2007 movie] was written around ten songs, rather than writing a script then doing the music, and this video says you can never judge a book by its cover.
There’s a twist at the end of the film – is this a comment on the current sense of distrust of the police?
T: No, it’s not a mistrust in police – there’s good and bad in all avenues. I’ve met some good police and I’ve also met the reverse. The idea came when I was stopped at UK Customs coming from Paris to London on the train by a plain clothes policeman. When I asked why he stopped me, he actually said I looked dodgy because of my tattoos and locks. I couldn’t believe he said what he said, and while I was listening to his stereotypical, slightly racist comments, I realised I’ve met gangsters who don’t look much different to him.
Why did the video prompt a remix of the track?
T: I wanted a mix of the track because the video is more aggressive than my original track, and also the album has been out a while, so people who have the album know the track already.
What are you working on at the moment?
T: I’ve just finished the Francesca Belmonte album, and I must admit it’s better than the album I’ve just released – but it’s on my label so that’s okay.
Head to False Idols’ website to get hold of the album
