D∆WN returns with another visually captivating moment. Two months after joining Dirty Projectors in the dazzling “Cool Your Heart” video, Dawn Richard explores her relationship with Los Angeles and Louisiana in the film-noir clip for her latest single, “LA.”
The mostly black-and-white visual finds D∆WN in her usual artistic zone, dancing and performing through the City of Angels. She makes sure to hit landmarks, from the Walt Disney Concert Hall to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
“‘LA’ is such a personal record and visual to me,” she told Jezebel. “It explains the parallels of the struggle and beauty I’ve encountered in both Louisiana and Los Angeles.”
Playing a guitar along with guest Trombone Shorty, Dawn also delivers a rockstar moment at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power building, overlooking the city’s iconic skyline.
“We been friends since Wayne was a Hot Boy… he said we should keep drivin’ for the sake of survivin’, now we hot, boy,” she sings. Though later, she adds: “These L.A. streets are killing me.”
The Monty Marsh-directed video has a black-and-white motif, but D∆WN and Marsh purposely included splashes of red throughout. “Red signifies the redemption I find in both the grit and the glamour,” she explained.
