The huge black birds with the intelligent knowing eyes have inspired many over the years – Joni Mitchell sang about one, Edgar Allen Poe quoted one, and then there’s the legend attached to those of the Tower of London – the great city will fall if the ravens ever leave. Now, Mike Kuzan of Philosopher Pirate adds his name to the list of those who’ve taken their cue from this bird, and his single, ‘Raven’, is the latest from the Asbury Park folk-rocker.
Every instrument on ‘Raven’ has been faultlessly played, and recorded gorgeously. With pounding drums, roaring guitars, and an arrangement that brings with it a warning, as well as mystery, the music serves as a foundation for Philosopher Pirate’s incredible storytelling and compelling performance. Kuzan is not your run of the mill singer songwriter, that’s for sure – he’s offbeat and intriguing, with a romantic streak to him a mile long.
The music video for ‘Raven’, directed by Courtney Collins of NLK Studio, is crisply shot, and continues the quirky, enigmatic, and dramatic feel brought by the song. We open on a small, but somewhat curious performance space, hung with curtains, decorated with cardboard clouds and toy cactuses. Philosopher Pirate, replete with guitar across his back, turns his antique spyglass on the landscape of this artificial world, and answers a call on a phone crafted from papier-mâché. At one point we see his silhouette surrounded by the shadows of a flock of birds, while in another shot he’s joined by dancers, who wear feathered shirts and crow masks. All in all, it’s exciting, thrilling, and somewhat haunting, as we join Philosopher Pirate on a trip – to who knows where.
Watch the music video for ‘Raven’ below, and let us know what you think in the comments. Find out more about Philosopher Pirate and his music online on his official website, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
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