Nanaimo rapper Sirreal is rolling out a series of music videos to accompany his latest album.
On Oct. 8, Sirreal, real name Matt Dunae, released a video for his track Get the Money, from his new record The Red Album. The video, also featuring Nanaimo artists Revron and Switch, is the first of three Sirreal’s putting out and so far it has more than 12,000 views on YouTube.
“The song is basically about how money is a necessary evil and unfortunately we need it to survive and all of us are trying to get that money, but don’t allow it to take a piece of your soul or pieces of who you are away,” he said.
Sirreal enlisted Victoria filmmaker Luke Connor to help make the video, which he said took months of planning and preparation before filming even started. Sirreal said it was shot in Nanaimo at places like Maffeo Sutton Park and the Globe Hotel in a single 15-hour session from 9 a.m. to midnight.
“We had close to $50,000 we were throwing around all day and it was just a lot of fun,” he said. “It was a bit rainy outside so we did a lot of inside shooting but as far as the team goes I’ve assembled this crazy good team now. It finally feels like we’re clicking on all cylinders.”
The Red Album was released at the end of August and Sirreal said the CD release show at the Queen’s sold out in 24 hours. The record is the second part of a musical diptych that includes Sirreal’s previous record, The Blue Album, which came out earlier in the summer. Sirreal said the two albums balance each other out.
“This one’s a little bit more upbeat, a little bit more uplifting than the other one,” he said. “I think the other one was introspective and I was in a different place in my life, whereas this one … I would say this one has a lot more different flavours.”
The album discusses topics like the ambition it took for Sirreal to get where he is and the challenges of making it in the music industry. On a duet with his son Benjamin, a.k.a. Lower Case g, he sings about the importance of embracing one’s individuality. There’s also a song that salutes the women in Sirreal’s life and a laid-back anthem of unity.
“It’s a more fun album,” Sirreal said. “The last album would kind of cause you to self-reflect when you listen to it. This one is more like just let go and be entertained.”
Sirreal’s next video, for the song Diamonds in my Canines, featuring Nanaimo rapper Details and also filmed by Connor, comes out Oct. 28.
The Red Album is available at Sirreal’s website. The video for Get the Money can be viewed here.
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