Tom Odell - Another Love

1. Tom Odell is a 26-year-old singer-songwriter from West Sussex, England. He released
his debut EP, ‘Songs from another love’ in 2012 and won the BRITS critics’ choice
award in early 2013. He then released his first studio album, ‘Long Way down’ in
June 2013, and his second one ‘Wrong Crowd’ three years later. His music specialises
in the indie genre. ‘Another love’ was Tom’s firs top 10 hit in the UK, being one of his
most successful songs. The lyrics and visuals of the song describe how he is unable to
love his current girlfriend from the pain he suffered from his last relationships,
creating trust issues and sadness for him. Whilst he ignores her attention in the
music video, she ends up leaving him.
How are the conventions of the indie genre
evident in Tom Odell’s music video ‘Another
Love’?

2. Normally in indie music videos, a narrative is included to split the artist’s live performance.
This makes them more interesting to watch, engaging the audience’s interest until it
finishes. Including a side story gives the video more meaning because it helps the viewer
understand the lyrics better and opens up their imagination to their own interpretations.
Live performances are a popular convention of the indie genre as it makes the audience
aware of the artist/band’s talent to perform in their element. This helps them to gain
recognition and then promotes them – including a narrative alongside live performances
attracts a wider audience as well as their targeted one, because if someone does not like the
music, they can still enjoy the music video. For example, the shots in the music video of
‘Inhaler’ by Foals switch between the band performing and a narrative. The video of
‘Another Love’ was interesting to watch because it displays the artist lip syncing (similar to a
live performance) whilst a narrative is happening in his surroundings. Although it is
rehearsed, the singer sitting in a chair looking relaxed indicates to the viewer singing at an
impressive level is natural to him. Tom Odell does not move from his position throughout
the entire video – displaying him as being emotionless and unaffected by what is happening
around him. This helps the viewer make links between the video and the lyrics (e.g. ‘All my
Tears have been used up’) because he has experienced so much suffering from love that he
refuses to let anything affect him again. Additionally, this relates well to Goodwin’s theory
as he stated there are relations between visuals and lyrics in a music video. Therefore, the
music video of ‘Another Love’ follows a linear narrative, as well as displaying narrative
conventions of the indie genre in its own unique and creative way. However, just because
there are labels that describe what makes a music video ‘indie’, it does not make a video any
less like its genre if it doesn’t precisely conform to all of them. This is because the overall
ambiance of the indie genre, is to make a music video stand out against all others. For
example, ‘Another love’ does not demonstrate the male gaze theory (as found in pop/chart
music such as ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke). Whilst you see the woman getting changed
in the mirror’s reflection, Tom Odell’s eyes are still locked on the camera. Continuity of the
narrative is also included in Tom Odell’s over music videos, such as ‘Here I am’. It focuses on
a man going up levels of stairs and the rooms/characters he comes across as he makes his
way up to the top.
Narrative

3. The locations of indie music videos are normally low
budget that can be accessed easily (e.g. cities, tunnels,
studios, forests). This is because the creators typically
focus more on what happens in the locations, than the
locations themselves. However, it depends on what the
song and narrative is about. For instance, the music
video of ‘Gold’ by Chet Faker is only based in one
location, which is on a long road, meaning that it was
easy to access. Similarly, only one location is shown in
‘Another love’, which is a room in bad condition inside a
house. It can be suggested that it is more of a bedroom
than a living room because full length mirrors are
normally found in them, as people like to see what they
look like once they are getting ready. On the other
hand, the room may have been based in a studio
because of the effects. Either way, not a lot of time and
effort was needed because the video does not have
more than one location in a specific environment.
In music videos from any genre, the costumes gives
the characters their own identity and sets them
apart from the others – this can help the audience
remember the visuals of a specific character.
Costumes can also tell them which era the music
video is set in, as well as the culture it is displaying.
The singer is shown to be wearing casual/everyday
clothes, which add realism to the narrative as if it is
based on real life relationships/individuals. Perhaps
Tom Odell is not dressed in bright & distinctive
colours for a reason, so they focus on Tom Odell’s
face instead – the composition of the shots helps to
direct where the audience focuses, so he is always
positioned in the centre. The woman is shown to be
wearing different outfits throughout the video, as
she tries after numerous attempts to gain his
attention, even though he is not interested due to
his previous love.
When it comes to props, musical
instruments are shown in indie music
videos to depict the band members from
the additional characters. Props also help
the viewer to make sense of the narrative,
as they can symbolise an important
message. In ‘Another love’, the furniture
hold importance in the narrative because
without them being there, the story
would not be expressed effectively as the
woman would have nothing to take out
her emotions on. At the end of the video,
the wide shot shows the damage that has
been caused – objects are broken and
they will not be the same as they once
were –representing the state of Tom
Odell’s feelings as his attention is not
taken off the camera despite the mess.
Locations Costumes Props

4. In indie music videos, Close up shots of the artist are used as this helps to advertise them better,
as well as concentrating on their emotion/expression. Establishing/wide/long shots are used to
display the scenes in the narrative as well as the identity of the characters. Crane shots are also
included in the live performance scenes as it allows the audience to focus on the band
throughout – this gives continuity as the focus hardly leaves them. In ‘Another love’, the video
begins and ends with a close up shot of Tom Odell. He looking at the camera lens makes the
audience feel as though they know him personally whilst he expresses his emotions through
singing to them, as if they are face to face. This is an excellent example of a POV shot. Also, this
connotes to E.A. Kaplan’s theory – he said it is important to include a reoccurring close up shot of
the artist’s face from the beginning to the end of the video. Goodwin also said that there are
frequent references to notions of looking in music videos e.g. screen on screen which makes the
audience feel more involved. These techniques make appearances in Tom Odell’s other music
videos, such as ‘Wrong Crowd’, where he is captured looking at the camera. From the first shot,
the camera zooms out as the video progresses – exposing the features of the bedroom and the
damage & seclusion it beholds that make the two characters feel distant from each other.
The majority of indie music videos possess similar
effects. Many shots are edited to be in black and
white, which creates emotion (e.g. sadness) and can
make them look old fashioned. Shots are cut at a
faced/slow pace to match the pace/beat of the song
(connoting to Goodwin’s theory). Special effects are
also added to make the video run smoothly as well as
making it stand out against mainstream ideologies.
The word ‘indie’ is a short form for ‘independent’,
implying that indie musicians aim to do their own
thing. Effects can also make the audience feel part of
the video as if they are sharing the same experiences
as the characters, bringing the narrative to life. The
music video of ‘Another Love’ partly challenges these
conventions because it is edited so it looks like there
is one particular shot that flows throughout the video,
proving not all shots have to be cut to the beat in
order to make it flow. The shades of the lighting and
the acting of the female perform the increased pitch
of the song at the end, making it emotive and
dramatic. The colour of the lighting was probably
altered during the editing process to make the
surrounds look more murky and bleak. This connotes
and challenges Goodwin’s theory because he states
that visuals are commonly repeated within a chorus
to emphasise lyric repetition, but there are certainly
links between the visuals and lyrics.
EditingCamera Work

5. In conclusion, the conventions of the indie genre are evident in Tom Odell’s
Music video ‘Another Love’. It addresses the pain from heartbreak through its
continuity/close up shots that makes the audience relate and feel sympathetic
towards Tom Odell. Although it does not display all mise-en-scene conventions,
there are some clear references to Goodwin’s theory. I feel as though it is a good
example of an indie song because it includes the most recognisable assets of
indie music videos but alters them to fit into the theme and ideologies of the
song.
Conclusion

6. In conclusion, the conventions of the indie genre are evident in Tom Odell’s
Music video ‘Another Love’. It addresses the pain from heartbreak through its
continuity/close up shots that makes the audience relate and feel sympathetic
towards Tom Odell. Although it does not display all mise-en-scene conventions,
there are some clear references to Goodwin’s theory. I feel as though it is a good
example of an indie song because it includes the most recognisable assets of
indie music videos but alters them to fit into the theme and ideologies of the
song.
Conclusion