Neneh Cherry burst onto MTV screens 26 years ago with the brash and colourful video for Buffalo Stance. Part of London designer Ray Petri’s Buffalo Posse, everything about the video – the beat, the hair, the earrings – was big and Cherry in her bomber jacket, bike shorts and confident swagger was to become an influence on many of our subsequent favourites such as Björk and M.I.A.
The stepdaughter of legendary jazz musician Don Cherry, Swedish born Neneh had been involved in punk bands including the Slits, but it was the video for Buffalo Stance, that helped introduce both Cherry to a wider audience and hip-hop to the UK.
Her latest video for Spit Three Times is a much more subdued affair. Taken from Blank Project, Cherry’s first album in 17 years, Neneh’s voice is backed by only the skeletal drums and synth.
Directed by young UK producer Bafic, the video compliments the song’s widescreen simple sparseness that seems a world removed from the colour and commotion of “Buffalo Stance.”
What was the process for the new video?
We worked with Bafic who’s one of the young kids around town doing interesting things. He’s worked with my daughter’s’ band PANES also. He does films, lights and visuals in general. We sent him the song and he wanted to do it but of course there’s always the limitation of not having lots of money – we wanted to work with someone who wasn’t going to be stopped by that – someone who would rise to the challenge.
The video has a feeling of travel and movement – something that you have done a lot of over your life.
The song is about battling with my darknesses more than usual. It was around the time my Mum died I also started to recognise that there was this comfort zone – this tune is about another kind of weight and darkness where you start to rely on trust. I think the visuals really tune into.
It’s a world removed from the bombast of Buffalo Stance.
Yes, but there’s also a kind of a parallel, even though the music is very different. Buffalo Stance was filmed in 1985 when I was 25. The sound, the music and the vibe was a different kind of rebellion – quite left field with that cheap look on purpose. It was something of a manufactured look with a rough edge to it. A lot of videos during that time were very smooth and shiny and this was a collage in many ways. The mood is very different in my new music.
Your upcoming tour will be your first solo shows in Australia but also New York City?
It’s weird right? I’ve never performed a solo gig in New York. It’s quite bizarre I can’t quite get my head around it. I played there with the Slits nearly 100 years ago at Irving Plaza and then I did a tribute or memorial night for Ari Up after she passed away. It’s odd because I kind of grew up in New York. It feels like my home. I’ve worked there I just haven’t played there.
Neneh Cherry plays Golden Plains Festival and a series of side shows in Australia this March.
Credits
Text Tim Scott
Photography Kim Hiorthoy