Prism Prize Video: Jon Samuel - Dead Melodies
The 2019 Prism Prize for Best Canadian Music Video was awarded recently to Kevan Funk, for his clip for Belle Game’s Low. We will continue to profile prominent Canadian videos, including this video from a former Wintersleep member now impressing as a solo artist.
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The 2019 Prism Prize for Best Canadian Music Video was awarded recently to Kevan Funk, for his clip for Belle Game’s Low. We will continue to profile prominent Canadian videos, including this video from a former Wintersleep member now impressing as a solo artist.
Jon Samuel - Dead Melodies
For the Dead Melodies video, Samuel wanted to expand on the song’s theme of music and art being undervalued and explore the relationship between people and art.
The hazy effect offers an almost dream-like quality to the video. We see him wake up and end up at a rather unusual house party. The festivities are bleak, sullen, and guests are seen wearing masks, obstructing their identities. There’s little contact being made by anyone - they sip on their beverages and capture each other with video cameras.
The video imagery that is one part dreamy, and one part disturbing - reflects on the disaffected and somewhat mysterious relationship people have with art and pays homage to the pieces of work that have long been dismissed and under-appreciated, and to the artists who create the work.
Credits:
Director: Sarah Greenwood
Director of Photography: Cecile Holland
Cast: Jon Samuel
J. Cole at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on July 27, 2026. Gabriel Di Sante