Synopsis
A young urban dancer and an older musician pursue separate lives across New York City, each following a personal idea of success and freedom. Their paths eventually intersect during one night, creating a brief but meaningful connection between two generations and two creative journeys. The video's haunting, cinematic mood mirrors the song's themes of pressure, labor, isolation, and the desire to escape restrictive circumstances.
Factoids & Trivia
- "Leon" was the lead track on Kool Head's Black Wave EP, released on February 3, 2014.
- Kool Head described its sound as "Black Wave," combining elements of hip-hop, new wave, funk, and pop.
- The video was financed through Kickstarter. The campaign raised $5,662 from 35 backers, exceeding its $5,500 goal by a small margin.
- The production was made on a relatively low budget. Its cinematic appearance was later noted as an example of what could be achieved through a strong concept and a committed crew rather than a large music-video budget.
- Jared Beadle-Allen appears in the lead role. David Kruta served as director of photography.
- The video premiered through VICE's Noisey on February 5, 2014, shortly after the EP's release.
- Kool Head also partnered with the Sympler iPhone app, which used "Leon" as its default downloadable track. The app was designed for real-time music and video mixing.