“A$AP Rocky had an orgee in Europe, then personally called me up and asked me to make a music video based on that. It was an interesting experience.” Luke Monaghan.
Following Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP, around the UK during his first ever London tour, ginger filmmaker Luke Monaghan got to combine his two greatest passions: making movies and listening to hip hop. Inspired by American rap music, Luke started out interning at MTV and today shoots the likes of Azealia Banks and Charlottee Free for ASOS and official music videos for rising UK grimes acts Wretch, Devlin and Dot Rotten. Establishing a distinct, clean and slick aesthetic that always feels natural and is never shot on the tired old streets of East london, Luke’s work appears like a moving editorial. Light and shadow play an integral role in the depth his films go into, and he cites Spike Jonze as a heavy influence on his work. Currently working on a treatment for future garage act Disclosure, i-D went i-N Conversation with Luke and found out his top five music videos of all time.
1. Kanye West ‘Jesus Walks’ directed by Chris Milk
2. Missy Elliott ‘The Rain’ directed by Hype Williams
3. Fatboy Slim ‘Praise You’ directed by Spike Jonze
4. Bjork ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ directed by Spike Jonze
5. Kanye West & Jay-z ‘Otis’ directed by Spike Jonze
Watch Luke’s A$AP documentary for Channel 4 here.
Text: Milly McMahon
Photography: Alex de Mora
