Skip to main contentI knew Kelli Schaefer was meant business the first time I heard "Black Dog." The song is ballsy—not just for naming itself after a Led Zeppelin tune, but for its big, bold, cinematic sound and clap-along beat. It's the sound of Kelli Schaefer stepping completely out of the singer-songwriter mold—with help from producer Drew Grow, who has taken similar steps with his own music—and finding a new way to present herself.
Fitting, then, that the video (directed by Nathan DeCeasar and edited by Steve Crocker) should skewer what we expect from lovely young songwriters. Instead of a slow-motion riverside romp in a flowery dress, Schaefer is presented here as an angry, self-destructive (just look at all those donuts) and perhaps psychotic songstress who enjoys having strangers scream at her at parties and entangling herself in spider webs.
Now, I'm not saying that smoking, drinking and eating donuts to excess is cool, but taken to these extremes it's certainly a bold way to present oneself in video form. But then you already knew that there was something a bit different about Kelli (who placed fifth in last week's Best New Band poll). It's going to be a lot of fun to watch her career. I'm just glad I learned to spell her name correctly—that's going to come in handy.
WWeek 2015