Archers Gate – “Suffocate”
When a song is paired with a strong visual, the result can hit a lot harder.
Emily, the lead singer of Archers Gate, came to me with a loose idea: “dark and distorted.” She couldn’t fully articulate the visuals, but the emotion behind the song was clear—feeling trapped by the weight of others’ words. My job was to translate that into something you could feel on screen.
The concept: put her in a black box and write those limiting words inside with chalk. As she moved, the words smudged and transferred onto her skin—visually reinforcing how language can suffocateshape identity. It also extended the band’s existing artwork, which showed Emily being choked by her own hands, covered in words (photo credit: Sharon Elaine Photography).
We shot in The Avenue at Ginghamsburg Church—concrete floor, black drapes, and a minimal lighting setup. I used a Canon R6 MII and a Rokinon 14mm T3.1 lens to stay close and wide, capturing intensity without losing context. The lighting was harsh and red to match the song’s tone. I handheld the camera and let it shake during heavy moments to match the live energy.
Eight total takes: one per band member, a wide, and two with Emily in the box. Edited in Premiere, layered with distortion and blending modes in After Effects. From concept to delivery: 48 hours.
If I did it again, I’d take more stills and spend more time refining the box—better words, better lighting, maybe paint instead of chalk. But for a quick-turn project with minimal gear, it captured the emotion we were after.