Big Black Delta (Jonathan Bates) has shared his highly-anticipated LP, 4. An album covering resilience, confronting depression and how much therapy saved his life. On its inception Bates explains, “The biggest difference was me addressing my mental health – finally finding a therapist who I trusted, and understanding my mental chemistry and addressing pre-existing genetic depression issues. Quitting drinking alcohol. I’m an alcoholic and was chemically addicted to it. Going through that as opposed to going around it. All these things and countless more informed me as to what I wanted to do musically…..to be of service.” 4 is out now on all streaming platforms.
With the release of the album, Bates also shares the video for track “Vessel,” directed by Warren Kommers. “When approaching Warren about doing something for this song, he and I were both at points in our lives where we were revisiting past failed relationships and our responsibility in their failures. I sent him the song which is about me owning up to my victimhood. A few days later he had a complete pre-visual and the whole video laid out. It was a fabulous experience watching it start from a vision in his head to the final edit.”
The video brings life to the room and its inanimate objects. Throughout the video there are classical elements, yet plenty of contemporary references as well. On the concept Bates describes, “This was of Warren’s design. My room was to be stark and empty. My favorite touch is the urinal and cracked paint in my room. In Murielle’s room is Warren’s father’s artwork which is beautiful. He wanted her world to be sophisticated and full of color, love and movement. Whilst my room is as basic as possible. This is what it feels like when you think everyone has a good thing going and you’re born fucked.”
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