Sheffield folk artist Jim Ghedi has released one of the most atmospheric and intense music videos that you’ll see this year. Unfolding like a dark folk-horror movie, the visual for The Hungry Child is beautifully and artfully shot, and the finished piece is absolutely cinematic in quality. Director Jordan Carroll says: “Whilst we had a loose storyline to the film with regards to the folklore and history of coffin paths on the moors, specifically around Yorkshire, we really wanted to focus more on an aesthetic this time around. Playing with creative visuals to capture the energy of the track, and the texture of the landscape.” Indeed, the stark beauty of the Peak District is the perfect backdrop for this tale.
Musically, Ghedi’s voice is at its most dramatic, perfect for the harrowing subject matter. Immediately, the tension mounts as the song is introduced with a hypnotic drone. Then, halfway through, distorted guitars and forceful drums transform the song utterly. Continuing to push the boundaries of what might be classed as folk, Ghedi has experimented with sound. He says: “I wanted to push the sound even more heavier, chaotic, almost like capturing the sound of destruction, as things are collapsing around us.”
Ghedi’s inspiration came from a German poem from 1806-1808 translated by Judith Piepe, who called it ‘The Procrastination Song’. It’s a story of a starving child who’s pleading for food and told to wait until it’s too late. “The meaning is pretty explicit here, with not a lot of room to shy away from it, the tragic world events which are currently taking place and the oppression of innocent people really connected to the sentiment of this traditional song. Seeing the symbolism of the mother or the guardian figure unwilling to recognise what was happening in front of them, the injustice and loss of life.” It’s a deep and weighty theme that sits perfectly with the power of Ghedi’s music.
As well as the new single, Ghedi will soon be releasing his first soundtrack. Ghedi’s distinctive songwriting and brooding folk will be heard in A24’s thriller The Death of Robin Hood, after he was approached by director Michael Sarnoski. Starring the likes of Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer and Bill Skarsgård, this is a major project – look out for it this June. Jim Ghedi’s darkly ambitious brand of folk is perfect for soundtracks, and this is highly anticipated.
