EXUM, aka Antone Chavez Exum Jr., releases a new music video for “Sage The Room”, a track off his recent debut LP Xardinal Coffee. The video, shot by Allison Brunce in San Francisco is a poignant expression of EXUM’s relationship with Christianity and his favoring spirituality over religion.
EXUM says of the track:
“This is a song about why I stepped away from ‘religious’ labeling and into spirituality. The video’s idea was to show the hypnotized minds of programmed people (not right nor wrong, just what it is), and how their reliance on conformity can actually cause corruption. In the video the uniformed witnesses see me as an outsider whose spreading false prophet, simply by completely opening my mind. By the end, I remind everyone that we’re in this together and I’m still one of them, regardless of how I think and feel. I won’t conform where I don’t feel at home.”
Beats 1 with Matt Wilkenson proclaimed the “brilliant new artist” is “a little bit Bowie, a little bit Prince.” The album creates a musical ecosystem with a striking blend of idiosyncratic bedroom pop grooves, electronic-tinged wonky R&B and slick hip-hop. EXUM cultivated his musical talent while playing in the NFL (SF 49ers, MN Vikings). With his musical debut Xardinal Coffee, his artistic journey begins. EXUM is not simply trying his hand at music though; he is crafting every part of his musical exploits, from carefully selected contributors (such as string composer Christian Balvig) and overseas producers, to shaping his own brilliant music videos with directors such as Allison Bunce and Rosabel Ferber. Both of whom occupy creative space in his art world, which goes by the name of ücke.
See EXUM live:
Sept 11 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall
Oct 28 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar *
Oct 29 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar *
Oct 30 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall * SOLD OUT
Oct 31 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle *
Nov 2 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend *
Nov 3 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club *
Nov 5 – Nashville, TN @ Exit / In *
Nov 6 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn *
Nov 7 – New Orleans, LA @ Republic New Orleans *
Nov 9 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall – Downstairs *
Nov 10 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger *
Nov 12 – Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street – OKC *
Nov 13 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck *
Nov 14 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room *
Nov 16 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line *
Nov 17 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre *
Nov 19 – Iowa City, IA @ Gabe’s *
Nov 20 – Chicago, IL @ Metro *
Nov 21 – Columbus, OH @ Skully’s Music Diner *
Dec 2 – Lancaster, PA @ Tellus360 *
Dec 3 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom *
Dec 4 – Portsmouth, NH @ 3S Artspace *
Dec 5 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground *
Dec 6 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall *
Dec 7 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall *
* with Alex G