Kalistan

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"Cauffman 5" to star in Music Video for Garrett Phillip's new single
Luthorian-Kalistani Phillips to represent Kalistan in FOMAT
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 1, 5649


Dubbed the "Cauffman 5" Ruiz, Montgomery, Baker, Ryan and Skowronek star in new Music Video

Garrett Phillips, the Luthorian musician who relocated to Kaliburg three years ago to continue his music career, has been selected to represent Kalistan at the upcoming FOMAT in Istalia. His new single "I Won't Let You Down" was selected over twenty five entries in the recent Radio 1 poll. Critics have called it a straight up rock and roll song, with some gospel and funk influences, and it seemed to please a lot of the various voting constituencies who gave it a majority of the vote in the fourth round.

Phillips, who was born and raised in Luthori, said he moved to Kalistan a few years ago because he could no longer tolerate the new ultra conservative policies of his government. "I don't really want to say what I think of the attitudes of my Government for people like me," said Phillips, who is gay. "I know I am welcomed here in Kalistan to live my life how I want to live it, and besides: there is a huge infrastructure that supports artists and musicians like me here in the Empire, and if my goal is to make my living as a singer and a musician, moving to Kalistan just makes a lot of sense."

Following the victory in the Song poll, KMI, who signed Phillips earlier this year on a development deal, decided to offer Phillips the opportunity to make a video for "I Won't Let You Down". Phillips agreed, but said he didn't want to be in the video himself. He said the song is a statement about finally feeling free to be one's self, shaking off the image of the past and living one's fullest life. But being in a video would tie up his image to the things that were represented on the screen and that is what people would think of him. So KMI suggested he work with film maker Catherine Wallace to make a new vision for the song come to life.

"After talking with Garrett," said Wallace, "We hit on an idea about letting people who live their entire lives in front of the camera sing his words in the song. He loved that idea. He thought it was fairly subversive: a subtle jab at the media and its power to create image. I called my friends at Cauffman Agency and they lined the Big 5 Supermodels up for the video. We shot the video in an old mansion in southern Kaliburg, and let the ladies kind of pick out their own clothes and do their own makeup, and really let them more or less direct themselves."

Through out the video, all five models lip sync Phillip's vocals, and are joined by several male models, of significantly lower profile, but also represented by Cauffman Agency. The focus is obviously on the super models. "We were even able to feature Kelsey Ryan, who took leave from the NSP so she could be on set for a day. She dyed her hair platinum blonde for the video.

The video deconstructs music videos as an art form and destroys a number of symbols that Phillips felt represented the sort of music scene he had left behind. "I always looked at Kalistan kind of as this place where I was going to have a hard time fitting in. I grew up believing that they hated people from Luthori. But on a whim I visited here about 5 years ago, found a vibrant and accepting scene here in Kaliburg, and most of all, the people were so laid back and nice and welcoming, that when I finally decided to leave Artania for good, there was really only one place I was going to end up at--Kaliburg, where I can not only live how I want to live, but also where there's so many opportunities for me to make music, and be welcomed."

Garrett Phillips and his back up band, the Eleven Nine, will travel to play the single "I Won't Let you Down" at FOMAT in Istalia next year. Cathy Ruiz, one of the stars of the video, will be on hand in Istalia to cover the contest for M7's "House of Fashion", and will have a special interview with Phillips after his performance. She will then cover the Contest results for all the fans watching back home. The M7 coverage will be broadcast worldwide on KalSat.

Meanwhile, you can check out Kalistan's entry to the upcoming FOMAT contest, "I Won't Let you Down" by Garrett Phillips, starring Cathy Ruiz, Gabrielle Montgomery, Vanessa Baker, Kelsey Ryan and Antonia Skowronek, right here.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diYAc7gB-0A]

@LaModa