Jay Elect-Hollywood?
Jay Electronica is an artist shrouded in mystique, something like a mythical being in raps historically flashy atmosphere. With a debut album that has been rumored for release since 2010 he’s been able to maintain his relevance and his reputation as a revered lyricist. through a few guest features and a handful of tracks tucked away within the underground Hip Hop blogosphere
While this year Electronica stepped back into the spotlight, dropping new music and even headlining a few festivals, the upcoming film, Into The Light will chronicle the international journey that took him away from the rap game for the past four years. Director Jason Goldwatch provided a synopsis:
Jay Electronica is full of mystery, and like a magician, his character lends itself to new ways of seeing things that would seem impossible to many. Several years ago, Jay and I traveled to the other side of the Earth. We left a piece of ourselves there. In exchange, we brought back something entirely new, and the images that follow are a glimpse into that magic for everyone who’s curious.
Traveling across strange lands, we were invited to attend sacred ceremonies of sacrifice and parading celebrations of ancient descent. We trekked together towards the horizon and explored crowded monasteries, solitary mountain top temples, slums of filthy laughing children, and rivers running with blood and flower petals. I documented as Jay walked a river of burning human bodies. We crash landed a helicopter in the Himalayas, and he delivered rice and clean water to a school in a refugee tent city. The result was a collage of movements and emotion.
The experience in itself was a perfect circle. A question with no answers. Full of laughter and tears, but no love story or plot twists. We searched for absolute truth in life, and the only undeniable answer we found was death.
Since returning, I have been working on a film based on this journey called Into the Light. It is experimental in form and best described as a meditation in un-learning. A movement in seeing without watching, hearing without listening, and the brave exploration of spirit. I look forward to sharing this film soon.
Into The Light will be released through Mass Appeal sometime in early 2015. Enjoy the trailer for the film above.
You can find Khari Clarke at a bar in Midtown Manhattan, and on Twitter (@KINGCLARKEIII).
