LVL UP - The Closing Door

What this video is

Released September 22, 2016, 'The Closing Door' video arrived at the apex of a Brooklyn DIY indie scene characterized by small-label community networks, SUNY Purchase college circuit origins, and a strong emphasis on inclusivity and collaborative artistry. LVL UP's signing to Sub Pop — a label historically synonymous with Pacific Northwest grunge — signaled the label's mid-2010s expansion into East Coast noise-pop…

Why it matters

Emblematic of the mid-2010s Brooklyn DIY noise-pop aesthetic: the video's naturalistic, low-budget magic realism and unhurried pacing mirror the band's sonic balance of 'reverb, harmony and tape distortion.' It represents a mature, cinematically literate approach to indie music video-making in an…

The director

Robert Kolodny is a New York-based director, writer, and cinematographer; founder and creative director of House of Nod production company; BFA Film graduate of the School of Visual Arts where he also teaches; DP credits include Laura Poitras's Academy…