Adrian Crowley reflects on the making of this video for 'The Wish', taken from his upcoming album 'Dark Eyed Messenger'... "Last May I travelled to New York and was joined by a small film crew headed by Irish filmmaker Niall Mc Cann. Niall and I have been working together for a couple of years now on his, as-yet-untitled, third feature film. The film will be premiered at Dublin International Film Festival in February 2018. To date Niall has made two music-themed documentaries, 'Lost In France' and 'Art Will Save The World'. As far I can see this one of ours will be third in the trilogy. But don’t quote me on that. I had some concerts planned for New York and Niall suggested that we combine my trip with a shoot for the ongoing work on the film. The crew dragged equipment all round New York, mostly by subway, filming in Queens, Lower Manhattan, Roosevelt Island, Coney Island...usually I didn’t have to carry anything because the guys were filming most of the time and I was in front of the camera, as it were. There was a heatwave in New York that week and the air was heavy and humid which was tough sometimes for a bunch of Irish lads, even me with my Mediterranean blood. I had a concert in a theatre in Hell’s Kitchen that week and the morning of the show I couldn’t face putting on my jeans and daytime clothes, so I showed up at the soundcheck in my pyjamas, much to the amusement of my dear friend Thomas Bartlett (who was playing with me for that concert). Thomas also produced and appears on my new album Dark Eyed Messenger which we had recorded in his studio in Midtown Manhattan the year before. A close friend of mine, Destefano, came down from upstate New York to join us for the shoot and we shot a scene together in Coney Island, That’s her on the bench next to me. An excerpt of the scene was adapted for this video of ‘The Wish’ which is the opening track on 'Dark Eyed Messenger'. I have for many years been enchanted by Coney Island, always making a trip there whenever in New York, heading out by myself on the train to take photographs. Whenever I was there, it always happened to be raining and it was always off-season - with everything shut down. But not this time. The place was bustling with life and all the rides and amusements in Luna Park were open and in full swing. Pun intended. Some of what we filmed for the film shoot was set up and acted and some was done in an improvised setting, left open to chance. I won’t break the mystique of this piece by telling you how it was filmed or if all the people in the frame were aware of what was going on. As you can see it was all captured in one continuous shot. Then we called it a wrap and went for a beer. I think Niall had a hot dog." ADRIAN CROWLEY Directed by Niall Mc Cann D.O.P. : Paul Rowley Production: Darren Bolger Sound recordist: Gregory Dunn Edited by Niall Mc Cann & Matthew Boyd Grading : Matthew Boyd. Woman on bench : Destefano DeLuise Filmed at Coney Island, New York, May 2017. 'The Wish' from the album 'Dark Eyed Messenger' Produced by Thomas Bartlett. Buy 'Dark Eyed Messenger' http://shop.chemikal.co.uk/acatalog/CHEM249.html Chemikal Underground: http://www.chemikal.co.uk Adrian Crowley: http://www.adriancrowley.com/ Adrian Crowley Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrAdrianCrowley Niall McCann: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5389446/

“Cinematography plus psychoanalysis equals The Science of Ghosts.” Jacques Derrida. What would a film about your life be like? Could it ever really truly reflect who you are? What if there are parts of your story you don’t want to share? Is your story even interesting enough? In this meditation on storytelling and filmmaking, we ask: where do we find the true story of a person? Is it in what they tell us, or rather in what they don’t tell us? And do they even know themselves? Directed by Niall McCann (Art Will Save The World 2012, Lost In France, 2017) who further explores the playful territory he mapped out in his first two films, pushing the form of not just what a music film is supposed to be and could be into new places but what a “documentary” is and could be. The role of the musician is “played by” Adrian Crowley playing the role of himself, as each of us do each day and as Derrida plays himself in Ghost Dance, the film our title is derived. The film is filled with the sonorous vocals and beautiful melodies of Crowley, and also features stunning performances by Radie Peat of Lankum, Brigid Mae Power, the Crash Ensemble and an appearance by the celebrated Irish writer Kevin Barry. Adrian Crowley is an award winning Irish artist and musician once described in Rolling Stone Magazine by American songwriter Ryan Adams as: the greatest songwriter you may not have heard of. He is signed to the iconic Scottish record label Chemikal Underground.

The Dead Hotel by Adrian Crowley, arranged by Malachy Robinson and Crash Ensemble. Performed as part of MusicTown Dublin 2016 16th April 2016, The National Concert Hall, Dublin

The first single taken from Adrian Crowley's sixth studio album 'I See Three Birds Flying', finds the award winning Irishman in predictably beautiful form... When Adrian Crowley was awarded Ireland's Choice Music Prize for 2009's 'Season of the Sparks', it felt like a long overdue coronation for the self-effacing and greatly admired songwriter. Recognised for sometime as one of Ireland's most evocative lyricists, Adrian's gift lies, not only in his poetic flair with words, but in his unerring ability to set those lyrics against an irresistibly affecting musical backdrop, often recalling the spare, reflective potency of Lambchop or Leonard Cohen. With "The Saddest Song", the first single taken from Adrian's new album 'I See Three Birds Flying', that marriage of eloquent lyricism and musical poignancy has never been stronger as London-based string duo and experimental composers Geese weave plaintive sighs of violin and viola around Crowley's pitch-perfect storytelling. As an introduction for anyone new to Adrian's work, it's a beguiling, understated exercise in songwriting sophistication: for those already in the know, it's an affirmation of Adrian's prodigious talent and a welcome declaration of intent for what is sure to follow on his forthcoming album. Lyrics: And I turned away from the darkened window To light the lantern on the night table And opened up the virgin pages And I tried to write The Saddest Song In The World And then I folded up The tear soaked pages Of careworn lines and forlorn phrases Of shameless abandon As if guided by the many hands of The Disenchanted! But I soon decided to let the pages fly To the hands of another And so I let them fly And I tried to write The Saddest Song In The World Adrian Crowley: vocal, electric guitar, Strings performed arranged and recorded by Geese (Vincent Sipprell & Emma Smith) Vince played viola & cello, Emma played violin. Kevin Murphy also played cello. www.chemikal.co.uk

3voor12 session Adrian Crowley The Village Coffee Le Guess Who?, Utrecht, 2 dec 2012

The Vespertine Quintet and Adrian Crowley perform 'The Ocean' by the Velvet Underground live at a house concert in Sands Cove, West Cork February 2016 Film footage by Sean Casey

Directed by award-winning Irish film maker, Eoin Heaney. Shot one day in a room in Dublin city centre when members of the public responded to a notice outside on the street, inviting them to be a part of a video shoot. They stepped inside and for that we are very grateful. 'Follow If You Must' was recorded by Stephen Shannon and features backing vocals by Katie Kim. Buy 'Some Blue Morning' http://shop.chemikal.co.uk/acatalog/CHEM212.html Chemikal Underground: http://www.chemikal.co.uk Adrian Crowley: http://www.adriancrowley.com/ Adrian Crowley Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrAdrianCrowley Eoin Heaney: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2312405/

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