When you watch the video for ‘Verve’, you’ll be instantly struck by the wide ranging influences inspiring the artists. On the one hand, there’s Manga illustrations, and on the other there’s 1920s silent film. And over all of it is the beautiful vocals of Soo Jin Yi and band, Maiden Seoul.
And Maiden Seoul have their own influences, including Korean church songs. Originally recorded back in the early 2010s by vocalist and keyboardist Soo Jin Yi and guitarist Ian Macaulay, ‘Verve’ has had new life breathed into it by the addition of Ian’s friend and drummer, Rashid Williams, whose percussion gave the song a new kick. Together they have worked on not just this song but a whole album, ‘Cinemanic’, which, if ‘Verve’ is any indication, should see them soaring the musical heavens.
‘Cinemanic’ took the group years to complete, and so, quite frankly, it should take listeners years to fully digest. The songs are genre-defying, and transcend indie-pop, jazz, and roots reggae, as well as the afore-mentioned Korean church songs. It’s too easy to press the play button and listen to the songs on the album without giving the background a second thought, but isn’t that effortless perfection what it’s all about?
The music video for ‘Verve’ sees all three of the band rendered as cartoons. Soo Jin Yi walks through the rain, the star of a movie, ‘Maiden Seoul’, up on the big screen of a cinema where the theatre patrons are all Manga-style. Similarly, we also see Ian and Rashid playing their guitar and drums. The audience are held, enraptured, as Soo Jin floats off on a crescent moon; just like listeners will be captivated by her vocals.
Watch the music video for ‘Verve’ below, and find out more about Maiden Seoul and their music online on their official website, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
Very clever video for a cool song