Support Lissett Denis' "Apartment 105" Visualizers

SUPPORT THE CREATION OF “APARTMENT 105” VISUALIZERS

Photo by: Bào Ngô

Over the course of the last two years (and inspired by years of hardship, love, loss, and self-discovery), Lissett Denis has been developing her very second extended playlist, “Apartment 105.”

In collaboration with director and producer, Latavia Young, Lissett is planning to go into production for the visualizers November 15-17 for her extended playlist and is seeking support from her community (and beyond) to invest in this creative offering.

The team that they have crafted is made up of emerging creatives who have worked with the likes of Harry Styles, Saweetie, and Beyonce. Additionally, the team has been able to secure a range of assistance and accommodations to reduce the budget which currently sits at $5,835.50 [total] to execute concepts for six (6) visualizers.

We’ve decided the best way to meet this generosity halfway is to come to our communities for support.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My forthcoming EP “Apartment 105” is a musical representation of a myriad of events that I endured and overcame throughout the specific years of 2021-2023. From experiencing two familial losses due to drug addiction, surviving multiple instances of domestic violence, almost losing my mother, again, to her battle with lupus (an autoimmune disease), finding the strength to walk away from yet another toxic relationship and finally totaling my car in an accident with a public city school bus, I felt like I couldn’t catch a break or a moment of ease. Up until recent years, the lack of ease felt like a recurring theme in my life. Trauma, heartbreak, stress and struggle were scenarios I had become too familiar, comfortable and acquainted with. However, one of my saving graces in my life’s journey has been music and performing arts.

Naturally, during this time, I turned to music, the gift of writing and utilized these creative tools as a way to cope and heal. Singing, writing and expressing have always been a corner I can run to in my life when confronted with a major trauma, heartache or challenge. In this process, I also came to remember that experiencing love, joy, healing, liberation and autonomy are feelings and emotions that are just as deserving of my attention in living and in my creative process.

I’ve been on my healing journey most of my life and it hasn’t been linear by any means. But, in making mistakes, dealing with loss and immense grief, I’ve been able to break cycles, reclaim my voice, move forward, and come back to my peace of mind. Being able to bring this journey to life in my songs and now through these visualizers will be the final string to pull this project together.

“Apartment 105” is meant for those who know the struggles of adversity, but have the willingness to be brave and courageous! It’s for all who have felt othered, less than, different. All the womxn, lgbtq+, BIPOC folk who know what these cycles may look/feel like and what the healing looks/feels like too.

Be in love, be vulnerable, be free and trust God, the higher power always!

All the love,

Lissett Denis

CONCEPT + THEME

The “Apartment 105” visualizers will contribute to the dreamy and creamy R&B pop sounds of the EP extending the sounds into a visual world that represents that of a hopeless romantic 20-something lover girl existing in a grounded and lofi space.

Engaging with mixed formats in production [VHS, Film, Digital], a variety of shooting styles to nod to and juxtapose naturalistic slice-of-life elements with imagined realities [handheld, shaky, stable, zooms], and immersive editing [timecode, overlays, montage], the visualizers will immerse the viewer into Lissett’s romantic dreamscape.

VISUALS + AESTHETIC

Building on “the lover girl” as an organizing principle, the visualizers will infer Lissett’s manifested reality serving as a montaged life as a movie.

Utilizing a color palette that screams femininity and playfulness with hints of passion, pinks, reds, and whites will motivate and contrast the brooding lighting scheme of “Apartment 105”.

Spotlight, peephole, and other circular framing devices will be a recurring motif, bridging the narrative from one visualizer to the next.

MUSES

BALLOON LAND (1935)

BLUE VELVET (1986)

THE BEATLES - YELLOW SUBMARINE (1968)

ATONEMENT (2007)

LANA DEL REY - CARMEN (2012)

TAME IMPALA - THE LESS I KNOW THE BETTER (2015)

EDEN - PROJECTOR (2020)

ZOLA (2020)

THE AWAKENING: FLORENCE WELCH (2022)

KHALID - SKYLINE (2022)

DOJA CAT - AGORA HILLS (2023)

MILEY CYRUS - FLOWERS (2023)

THE WORK OF IMAGE MAKER TYLER MITCHELL

TIMELINE

Development + Writing [June 2024-October 2024]

Pre-Production + Rehearsals [October 2024 - November 2024]

Production [Nov 15, 16, 17]

Post-Production [November 2024 - January 2025]

Music, Sound, Colour + VFX [Online] + Cutdowns

Companion Development

Merchandise Rollout

Distribution [Valentines Day Launch - February 2025]

TEAM

LISSETT DENIS [ARTIST]

Lissett Denis is an independent, underground singer/songwriter who is originally based out of Phoenix, Arizona. She was born and raised in the valley of the sun, and has been inspired by the people, stories and art that hide within her home state. Being of Mexican, Puerto Rican and Haitian descent her upbringing was filled with a rich cultural influence, and a diversity in music, all of which have contributed to her sound today. Her music is a blend of indie R&B, dream pop and neo-soul.

Her love for music and performing arts started quite young, but she didn’t start pursuing music until 2016 and began performing on venue stages that same year. Her first EP, was released in 2017 on SoundCloud and was received well by her fellow peers within the Phoenix music and arts scene. With that momentum, Lissett has gone on to perform unreleased tracks on venue stages such as the Van Buren, The Marquee, Crescent Ballroom, Rebel Lounge, Valley Bar, etc. on curated line ups and as an opening act. Throughout the last couple of years, Lissett has been working on her second EP, “Apartment 105” which is set to release on all streaming platforms in February of 2025.

LATAVIA YOUNG [DIRECTOR + PRODUCER]

Liberty City, Miami born and perpetually prescribed lover girl, Latavia Young is a writer, director, and creative producer whose upbringing and early experiences of love predispose her toward the exploration of family, culture, love, and connection at the intersection of race, poverty, and formative years. Her recent directed work includes “The Burden of Context", a biographical short documentary revealing the living legacy of slavery, segregation, and gentrification in Miami and its influence on her family narrative and “My Fierce Aunt Bianca” a short documentary centering the life and legacy of the trans-starlette featured on the cover of Blood Orange’s Coastal Grooves Album. "My Fierce Aunt Bianca" is currently on display at The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) and Leslie Lohman Museum of Art. Latavia is in pre-production for her upcoming narrative short film "Peeling" centering 10 year old Kendra as she comes of age in Liberty City, experiences foundational moments in love and relationships, and becomes aware of her vulnerabilities.

Latavia has been a part of the development and production of shows such as “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC), “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO), and “Everyone Else Burns” (Ch4, CW). She has produced music videos for Summer Salt, Breakup Shoes, R&B artist Ayelle and podcasts for former President Bill Clinton, Amazon Studios, and AppleTV+. Latavia was also a part of the producing team for “Grace”, a narrative short illuminating the intersection of girlhood, Blackness, and queerness in the 1950's U.S. South; which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

JOJO KIM [PRODUCER]

Jojo Kim is a Korean-American director and producer based in Los Angeles with a passion for telling stories that challenge, inspire, and connect. After a successful career in Advertising for half a decade, she made the bold decision to pursue her true passion in filmmaking and moved her life to LA in March of 2024.

Driven by a commitment to impactful storytelling, she seeks to shed light on the untold stories of identity, belonging, and community. Jojo has produced music videos, short films, commercials, and feature films for artists like Saweetie, Jay Park, and more.

ETHAN SMITH [CINEMATOGRAPHER]

Ethan Smith is a full-time freelancer in Los Angeles, California. He works primarily as a 1st or 2nd Assistant Camera, while occasionally taking on the role of Director of Photography.

His on set experience encompasses a wide range of projects including music videos, commercials, documentaries, shorts, and feature films. He has worked with artists such as Doechii, Harry Styles, and Reneé Rapp.

SAM SAUSEDO [EDITOR + COLORIST]

Having worked with artists such as Beyoncé and brands including Cecred, Ivy Park, and Google, being behind the camera, shooting, or editing is where Sam thrives.

She edits for commercials, music, narrative, social and tour and extends her creativity to personal creative projects such as music videos and short films.