Premiere: Allen Ling Parodies Hollywood Grandiosity for ‘Closer’ Video

Call it a takedown of showbiz vacuousness or just a playful, meta-commentary on what it means to shoot a music video, but there’s a charm to California-based Allen Ling’s latest offering “Closer.”

While the song is made with producer-guitarist Dave Lopez (from rap-rock band Flipsyde), the video brings in director Daniel Catton and producer Aramis Knight to envision ballerinas, a backing band and glamorous shots of Ling seated on the hood of a limousine, dressed in a tuxedo the whole time. Ling – who has previously released singles like “Straight Into the Ocean,” “A Name In Your Book” and “Remember” – says the video was originally envisioned as a “bullet ballet love triangle.” He adds, “Thank God I didn’t pursue my version!”

Sonically, Ling digs into rock roots but also leans on piano and string arrangements to drive home his ponderings on closure and the complex emotions surrounding friendships and love. The hook is (intentionally) the most repeated part of the four-minute track, which signals just how it can become an earworm. In the process of writing a song like “Closer,” Ling says he doesn’t obsess over any aspect for too long. “Most of my actual lyrics and melody for a song are done in less than an hour,” he says.

A big draw in the track also comes with Lopez’s starry guitar lead. The Flipsyde founder says in his statement, “This is the first song I heard of Allen’s, and I instantly wanted to be involved with the recording. I can’t wait to share it with everyone. When I played the solo at the end, I envisioned folks walking down the aisle for a wedding or a graduation. It has that classic appeal.”

Ling has released “Closer” and its music video – with a longer “music film” version also coming out – just ahead of his arrival in India for his debut performances in the country. Joined by Lopez on tour, the duo will perform at The Piano Man, Eldeco Centre in New Delhi on March 15th (supporting a special one-night-only performance by rock band Them Clones) and at the festival HT City Unwind in New Delhi on March 17th. It will be followed by an intimate show at Oak Live, Courtyard by Marriott in Dubai later in the month.

The artist says he was strongly encouraged by Lopez to start his performances in India. Ling adds, “It’s a very pure place that is constantly developing artistically and culturally, the whole of Asia, actually. I already was using a cartoon animation team in Bangalore for my comic book publishing company, so it seemed like a step in the right direction.” Overall, his upcoming journey is “also the most expensive, elaborately planned and exciting trip I’ve ever undertaken,” Ling adds.  

He justifies it by talking about how it marks a turning point in terms of his journey as a musician so far. “My main reason for all the traveling is to connect face to face with the people of Asia — starting with India and Dubai, and see their responses to the music that Dave and I have produced together,” Ling says.

Watch the video for “Closer” below.

Allen Ling & Dave Lopez perform at The Piano Man Eldeco Centre, New Delhi on March 15th alongside Them Clones and Chazz & The Princely States and at HT City Unwind on March 17th at JLN Stadium, New Delhi.