Sally Potter, the renowned British filmmaker who has directed films such as Orlando and The Party, has recently released her debut music album, Pink Bikini, which is set to be released on 14th July. The album is a semi-autobiographical collection of songs based on the filmmaker’s experience as a young woman coming of age in 1960s London. The album features music and lyrics by Potter and musical arrangements from guitarist Fred Frith, who has collaborated with Potter on her film scores for many years.
The album is based on the filmmaker’s turbulent teenage years; a time of change, the end of childhood and the beginning of life as an adult. The first music video for the single Black Mascara has been released and features Potter performing a hula hoop routine and lyrics popping up on the screen in bright red typeface. The video was shot by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Robbie Ryan alongside a small crew of graduates from the UK’s National Film and Television School.
The Philosophy of Barefoot Filmmaking
Making the video for Black Mascara was a return to Potter’s roots, where she had no money, training or equipment, and had to invent and imagine things out of nothing. Potter named this philosophy “Barefoot Filmmaking”, which meant working with minimal means, borrowing gear, and working with the goodwill and energy of a few beloved friends and co-conspirators.
Best known for her work as a director, Potter has also had a successful music career. During the 1970s, she was a member of the Feminist Improvising Group, an avant-garde band that toured extensively in Europe. Potter also performed with the Film Music Orchestra and collaborated with Lindsay Cooper on the album Oh Moscow, performing in the USSR and East Berlin in 1989, before the wall came down.
Pink Bikini: A Semi-Autobiographical Collection of Songs
Pink Bikini, a semi-autobiographical collection of songs, is based on Potter’s experience as a young rebel and activist. The album is a reflection of her teenage years, a time of social and political change, and the end of an era. The album is a fusion of different musical styles, including rock, jazz, and folk, and features Potter’s distinctive vocals and lyrics.
The album also features musical arrangements by guitarist Fred Frith, who has worked with Potter on her film scores for many years. The album’s tracks include Black Mascara, the first single and music video, along with other songs such as Stone, Berlin, and Wild.
Sally Potter’s debut music album, Pink Bikini, is a semi-autobiographical collection of songs that reflects on the filmmaker’s experience as a young woman coming of age in 1960s London. The album features music and lyrics by Potter and musical arrangements by guitarist Fred Frith. The first music video for the single Black Mascara has been released, shot by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Robbie Ryan, and features Potter performing a hula hoop routine. Potter’s philosophy of “Barefoot Filmmaking” inspired the video’s production, which involved working with minimal means and the goodwill of friends and co-conspirators.