Richardine Bartee
Recently featured as one of Detroit’s most unique artists in this “5 New Artists To Push” article, Duane The New Dog — now Duane The Brand New Dog — returns with a new video for a song called, “You Got Style” featuring a friend named KIKI. Wanting to know what inspired the cinematic direction, the premise of the song and Duane’s fashion choices, he elaborates:
“I’ve always wanted to write and record a song like this. I work in retail so I spend most of my time there, selling fashion jewlery to middle-aged suburban housewives. While working there, I fantasized about having a song that would encourage all kinds of individuals to tap into their own sense of style and use that as a form of self-expression. Initially, the idea was to have it filmed in a retail setting or thrift store. The idea of blending in my experience being raised by seamstresses — grandmother and mother — as a child in 90’s, got me thinking of using sewing, fabric, old patterns, etc. as inspiration. Plus, I wanted to do something very colorful. This is only my third video and the two prior were kind of dark tone to them.
KIKI (who’s real name is Akilah Russell) is the younger sister of one of my former backup dancers. I heard through the grape vine that she sang occasionally, and had a nice voice so I Facebook messaged her to see if she’d record with me. We got along great and finished it up one afternoon in my basement bedroom in Detroit. She’s from Michigan as well but she lives in either Ann arbor or Ypsilanti — I’m not sure — but she has family in Detroit. So the slight distance thing wasn’t a problem. We recorded that song a few months ago, and shot the video three weeks ago. She says she’s always been a fan of my stuff since 2011 but we didn’t meet until last Summer.”
For more Duane The New Dog, just click here.
