by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Last month saw the release of Poolblood’s full length debut, Mole, a stunning record that threads together warm indie compositions and bedroom pop introspection. The entire record moves like a living breathing reflection of Maryam Said’s world, the Toronto based musician creating stunning works of melodic and lyrical synchronization. Out via Next Door Records (Casper Skulls, Bells Larsen), it’s a record that pulls you in deeper with every repeated listen, the gentle landscapes evolving in time as the words become inescapable, brought to life by the soul and spirit of Said’s delivery. There’s a unique fluidity to the record played in full, as textures come and go, but every piece seems to compliment what came before, a continuation of the stunning journey, unfolding piece by piece.
One of the record’s many highlights is “My Little Room,” the album’s gorgeous culmination, a song that exhibits the patience and grace of Poolblood’s sound. Said’s voice is soft and thoughtful, light yet commanding, there’s an immediacy to the song that captures the intimate surroundings. Acoustic guitars, sweeping strings, and whirring horns all come together to create a shimmer swell of orchestral bliss, but it’s just another blurred moment as Said quickly pulls the piece back to a dreamy state of serenity. The track’s new video, directed by Holly Pruner, brings Mayram Said from their titular “little room” into a world inspired by Mr. Rogers’ land of make-believe. Filmed in Super 8 at the Model Railroad Club, the light crackle of the film does wonders to bring us away from our computer screen and into their storybook joy of moving trains and delightful calm.
Speaking about the video, poolblood shared:
"The video is a homage to Mr. Rogers. I grew up watching the reruns and I just loved it so much as a kid. I knew I wanted my friend Holly Pruner to direct the video because she is such a great storyteller and really nailed the feeling of the song. She did an incredible job capturing the rhythmic meditative state of the song. We filmed the whole video at the Model Railroad Club in Scarborough. We had such a great time getting to explore the space and learning about the history of the club. Sandy, one of the members of the club, was so gracious, lending us the studio for the day and running all of the trains. I also got a miniature of myself done. We shot it on film to give it a hazy dream like vibe and it turned out fantastic!"
and from director Holly Pruner:
"I’m super excited to share this collab with Maryam a.k.a. Poolblood, our little arts & crafts project! ‘My Little Room’ perfectly captures the feeling that we are constantly growing and changing. The song has a melodic urgency to it, familiar to any person eager to take on their next chapter in life but already nostalgic for whatever they’ll leave behind. This was my first time working in Super 8, but armed with the expertise of Analog Resurgence’s Noah Henderson, and a macro lens, we were able to bring this cozy miniature world to the big screen!"