Santa Fe Reporter - Music Video Premiere: Velvet Vision’s “Party at Sal’s”
The weirdest mail drop spurs the sickest party in the video for the single off the Santa Fe musician’s upcoming full-length ‘Together’
In January of last year, Santa Fe musician Betty Taylor, aka Velvet Vision, released the single “Silver City,” proving that danceable synth pop still has legs as a genre—and catapulting her into the hearts of anyone who likes borderline lo-fi electronic sounds achievable through Casios and Korgs and the like. Velvet Vision’s jamz are for the new-wave fans, the neo-pop fans, Madonna lovers, even, or those post-indie nerds who still think a lot about Mates of State or The Rentals or Quasi while playing their Pet Shop Boys tapes until they’re too worn down to spin in the deck.
That’s not to say Velvet Vision is derivative by any means, more like Taylor’s influences are apparent alongside her open-hearted style of lyricism. The term throwback seems reductive—it’s more like the songs conjure that feeling of knowing something, but being unable to place it. At its foundation, Taylor’s earnest vocals and storytelling chops sell the package, anyway, and you should really catch a live show if you can. Taylor’s the type of songwriter who can take something simple, like a house party, and turn it into the kind of relatable experience that makes you miss your people and long for your youth; or, if you are young, she might make you feel like you’re so lucky to know the people you do. And though “Silver City” remains a banger and a half, Taylor has really hit her stride with the forthcoming full-length, Together, which finally drops later this month.
“I decided on that title because even though I’m producing this music in isolation, so much of Velvet Vision has been about friends who are supportive of my music,” Taylor says.
The togetherness concept shows, or at least gets conveyed on nearly every song. “Swimming,” for example transforms what sounds like a good old-fashioned keyboard sample into a head-bobbing love song. “Next time think before you act,” Taylor sings, likely to herself, before directing the lyrics outward: “I was having dreams we were swimming/Wanna feel you next to me.”
Title track “Together” might bring the most heat, though, with its MIDI vintage video game sounds and a driving beat that seems to get a little more complex every measure or so. “I’ve been drifting out of touch,” she sings, “...we’re together through the dark.”
Love songs come in many forms, but there’s something special about the ones dedicated to friends. And friendships are on full display on the track “Party at Sal’s,” too, a hybrid dance anthem/love letter to community that recounts a real-life party Taylor attended. It’s also the song from Velvet Vision’s first music video, which SFR proudly premieres here.
The house that serves as the video set was the first house where Taylor lived in Santa Fe, she tells SFR, “and the narrative is based on an actual party my friend Sal had. She’d ordered a disco ball that was supposed to there for the party, but it didn’t arrive on time. She had this smaller one—but then, in the middle of the party, like, 9 pm, UPS showed up with this big disco ball and we raised up the new one.”
The story behind “Party at Sal’s” might sound like an intimate look at a specific group of friends, but its themes of fun nights, closeness and some strange event to bond over—like a late night mail drop—are universal and signal Taylor’s grasp and love of local community. These elements went into the music video from cinematographer/director Marissa Aurora, who nails the house party vibe. Taylor’s buds make numerous cameos as well, punctuating that she really puts her money where her mouth is when it comes to friendship.
“I wanted it to be a snapshot of the people I see, and I was glad they could come party and wanted to participate,” Taylor explains. “It really feels like, even though Velvet Vision is a solo project, it’s very much propelled by my friends. That’s so important to me right now.”
Together drops Friday, June 30 in all the usual places online and Taylor will preside over a release party at DIY space Ghost on July 8. You can can also catch a Velvet Vision performance at Ghost on Saturday, June 17 alongside the album release for the band Teleporter. Check out Velvet Vision’s website for more info.
Velvet Vision Record Release Show: 4 pm Saturday, July 8. $10-$15. Ghost, 2889 Trades West Road
Teleporter Records Release Show w/Velvet Vision: 7 pm Satuday, June 17. $10-$15. Ghost, 2889 Trades West Road, facebook.com/ggghhhooosssttt