Philip Selway Shares “Check For Signs Of Life” Video
With his new album Strange Dance due out 24th February via Bella Union, and having previously shared a visualizer for lead single “Check For Signs Of Life”, today Philip Selway shares a mesmerising and beautifully-shot black and white video for the track. Produced by Uncommon Creative Studio with director William Williamson, the video features a quartet of renowned and award-winning dancers and choreographers: Siobhan Davies, Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp, Simone Damberg Würtz and Liam Francis. Siobhan Davies is one of the UK’s most celebrated dancers and choreographers while Simone Damberg Würtz is a leading light of the Rambert Dance Company, with whom Selway has collaborated, and is currently to be found playing the lead role of Polly Shelby in the company’s adaptation of Peaky Blinders.
Commenting on the video Philip Selway says: “The video for ‘Check For Signs Of Life comes from an idea I had to develop a dance piece over a series of songs from Strange Dance. I wanted the piece to explore imagined conversations between future and past selves and to be based around this particular quartet of dancers. The piece has been choreographed by Simone Damberg Würtz and Liam Francis. They both perform in the video alongside Siobhan Davies and Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp.”
Director William Williamson adds: “Working closely alongside Philip and choreographers Simone and Liam we set out to explore the complex relationship between future and former self through the medium of contemporary dance. Transcending time and moving through varied emotions, we wanted to create a film that will inspire the audience to hang their own narrative on. As we rehearsed, the intimacy and fragility of the choreography became so clear I decided to shoot it all in a single take. It meant pulling together the dance, camera and lighting, to communicate a sense of unity and power, which stays focused in the moment.”
In other news, Selway was recently announced as an Ambassador for Independent Venue Week which is this year celebrating its 10th anniversary. In conjunction with the event Selway embarks on a 5-date UK tour in late January and early February. Selway has also just announced a run of UK and European tour dates for May 2023 including a headline performance at the Union Chapel in London. Dates and info below:
Monday 30th January – Norwich – Arts Centre
Tuesday 31st January – Cambridge – Junction
Wednesday 1st February – Hebden Bridge – Trades Club
Thursday 2nd February – Stockton-On-Tees – Georgian Theatre
Friday 3rd February – Guildford – The Boileroom
Thursday 4th May – Brussels – Ancienne Belgique Club
Friday 5th May – Paris – Café Del La Danse
Saturday 6th May – Amsterdam – Melkweg
Sunday 7th May – Berlin – Columbia Theater
Tuesday 9th May – Copenhagen – The Koncerthuset Studio 2
Monday 15th May – Glasgow – Oran Mor
Tuesday 16th May – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
Thursday 18th May – London – Union Chapel
Friday 19th May – Bristol – Thekla
Saturday 20th May – Birmingham – Hare & Hounds
Sunday 21st May – Manchester – Gorilla
