Marjorie Fair - Empty Room

What this video is

Released in 2005 to support Marjorie Fair's debut album Self Help Serenade on Capitol Records, 'Empty Room' sits at the intersection of mid-2000s indie melancholy and psychedelic pop, a moment when American acts were drawing from Beach Boys harmonics, Elliott Smith's confessional mode, and Mercury Rev's lush production. The video's warm, sun-bleached visual palette and rapid editing reflect the period's embrace of…

Why it matters

Represents the mid-2000s indie psych-pop video form: emotionally sincere, visually warm, and editorially kinetic in contrast to the song's introspective tone. Palmieri's director-editor dual role exemplifies the auteur-driven, low-overhead approach that allowed Capitol Records indie signings to…

The director

Michael Palmieri is an American director, cinematographer, and editor active in music video and documentary filmmaking. His music video credits include work for The Strokes, Foo Fighters, The Bravery, Sharon Van Etten, and Beck. His debut feature documentary…