Paydirt Pictures director for band’s upcoming album
Paydirt Pictures director Vern Moen has created a series of twelve trailers preceding the April 2nd release for the new Cold War Kids album Dear Miss Lonelyhearts. Each week previews an excerpt of the song coupled with a glimpse of the band working and hanging out in their studio to whet the appetites of avid Cold War Kids fans. As far as countdowns go, it doesn't get any better than this.
Vern Moen has directed numerous music videos for bands such as Scissor Sisters, Dead Weather, Miike Snow, and the Foo Fighters, but has a particularly close relationship with Cold War Kids, who he met in college. "I sort of grew up professionally with them, they were the first music video I directed, and we continue to have a great creative relationship."
For the "Lonelyhearts" trailers, Moen proposed filming the band in their recording studio in San Pedro, CA, which is plastered with bass player Matt Maust's artwork. The band was looking for an innovative way to promote the upcoming album, and Vern suggested an evolution of a concept he had experimented with for James Mercer and Dangermouse's band Broken Bells. "The idea happened quickly and organically with the guys, the main idea being to give the fans a taste of the songs and a look behind the scenes. The fact that it became a countdown was happy coincidence."