Manny King John
It is like the soundtrack of that one dreamy art house film that I can’t remember the title of…
One bloody nose, a broken iPhone screen, a rainbow-sprinkled donut, and a textual conversation between friends under the same roof to go, please… Instead of just dancing on the streets and singing his deep-seated lyrics in front of the famed director Floria Sigismondi who’s worked with music royalty David Bowie, Sigur Ros, Lawrence Rothman decided to experiment with an idealized view of live to fully express telling words of second single “#1 All Time Low”.
Quite often and without incredulity, synonymous words like dystopian and baritone are used when describing Lawrence Rothman, who grew up in the Midwest and has lived a nomadic lifestyle before settling in Los Angeles. He credits his calling as a musician to being inspired by his fascination for R&B, the writings of Charles Bukowski and film scores, and house music. In a muffled timbre, comes forth the belt his inner core projects onto simple synthesizer beats causing one to remember the mid-eighties and Michael Bolton.
In the video for “#1 All Time Low”, Rothman dons a set that details that of a hepcat who might have been violently beaten up by someone, something or just his conscience — given his fantastic view musically. Just before his equally eccentric friends come over and enter his home without a key, he spat a tooth and blood in his bathroom sink as he checked himself out. Visibly, he’s in pain and to their artificial existence, his friends don’t seem to notice or care. Which would be even more haunting.
“Maybe it was a dream,” I thought after watching the video for the first time. To try to find a deeper meaning and perhaps, parallel the thoughts of the artist, I researched a few significant items in the video.
According to DreamMoods.com, the significance of blood or bloody hands in a dream loosely means that you’re going through an emotionally draining situation causing exhaustion. “It may also denote bitter confrontations between you and your friends. Some of your past actions have come back to haunt you,” says the dream interpreting website. It also mentions disappointment, and feelings of guilt when it comes to the significance of bloody hands in a dream. I chalked that up to what the Rothman said about pushing through a rebirth and wanting to revert back to the carefree lad he once was, as a child, as well as the use of the mirror in the bathroom.
It says on the website that, when dreaming of your own reflection it suggests that “you are pondering thoughts about your innerself. The reflection in the mirror is how you perceive yourself or how you want others to see you.” Then, it goes onto say in favor of the artist, “You may be contemplating on strengthening and changing aspects of your character.” Well, done Rothman. Bravo!
However, the ongoing textual conversation with friends under the same roof didn’t need a dream analyst view. Simply, I wrote it off as humor displayed between the artist and the director. It shows the current communication of many young adults in our country, and definitely that of his fellow hepcats. We’re totally guilty of committing this crime, too.
Which leaves me with only with one question… What’s making the bath water red?
For more about Lawrence Rothman, just click here. You’ll eventually find information on how to buy his limited pressed records when available, and how to support the artist in concert and more.
P.S. If you’re wondering what’s up with the donut, it’s totally a symbol of joy deprivation.
For more Lawrence Rothman, just click here.
