Natalie Neal x Soko

You many be familiar with LA based Natalie Neal from our previous posts here in online Ballad land - it would be pretty fair to say that we are more than a little bit obsessed with her dreamy photography and video work. She first caught our attention with her Seashells video, which focuses on fourth grader Valentina's first steps into womanhood when faced with her first training bra, and later with Natalie's photography, which also explores the issues of girlhood and femininity. This morning we bring you Natalie's newest video project, "I Still chose to stay", featuring Soko and the poetry of Sara Sutterlin. Check out the lo-fi film stills and behind the scenes shots, then watch the full film HERE.

"I still chose to stay" is the first in The Mirror Cube's Vision Series, which commissions and encourages new video artists to explore and develop their creative voice. Soko's character contemplates here current relationship, and what this could mean for her future life. Natalie created this installment after reading Sara Sutterlin's amazing poetry, and felt compelled to create an audio/visual accompaniment to her work. Soko reads her haunting words over the perfectly shot images - a dreamy sequence that is hyper-feminine, super compelling, and drenched in Natalie's recognisable aesthetic. The video perfectly develops themes that Natalie explored in Seashells, and we can't wait to see the future progression of her creative vision.

Watch the video HERE

www.natalie-neal.com

@natalieneal