PREMIERE | Johnny Burgos Funks Through the Hood in "Picture Perfect" Video
The R&B Newcomer Takes to the City Streets to Groove his Way to Superstardom.
Burgos oozes sweet swagger with his new clip.
The New York City streets sparkle underneath the twinkle of street lamps with delicate pools that spin and create a force amidst so much concrete. In the late midnight hours, while the hustle and bustle subsided in whispers and gentle heaves, Johnny Burgos took a stroll to capture the mood and dance floor aesthetic of a new single called "Picture Perfect" (grab it on iTunes; stream on Apple Music). The air hangs with magical orbs, his confidence bleeding out onto the screen. The visual, filmed by Max Skaff and Jermaine Clark, is predominantly splashed with a warm gold, serving to invite the listener into his sphere and a love-strewn story about uncertainty.
"I started the production on this [song] way before I had any lyrics and wrote to the beat in my headphones, while walking through the hood," Burgos tells Popdust, premiering the clip today (July 17). "The groove always made me wanna dance." The music video is a spectacular display of atmosphere, and as the sequence progressive, cooler colors of muted blues and greens peek through the song's unshakable rave-like detonations. He might be the only one in the club, as it were, but Burgos takes the viewer on a glitzy, grungy, and perfectly merry time, framing the "City That Never Sleeps" as a slumbering beast ready to pounce unexpectedly.
"I know life ain't fair / And I won't be spared / So, I must ride the way," he warbles and coos just before the hook drops. The meaty and weighty lyrics stand in remarkable contrast to the song's silkiness, allowing the listener to get lost in a world and let their worries slide off their backs.
Watch the video below:
"So, what we got here ain't picture perfect," he considers on the syrupy and addicting chorus line, a mingling of classic soul, late-'90s R&B and stinging funk. "So much is not clear," he mutters. "Love is certain." It's a an enchanting dreamscape, and it's no wonder Burgos, whose uncle is distinguished percussionist Andrew Martinez, has begun to create a name for himself. His creamy vocal ability glides across his melodies with precision, but it's effortless. His talent speaks loud and clear. Through drawing upon such icons as Michael Jackson and Erykah Badu and an early attraction to the percussion of soul and salsa music, he has cut his teeth on his way to the top.
"Picture Perfect," produced by Ben Lindell, known for his work with 50 Cent, J Cole, MGMT and many others, is the second official single from Burgos' forthcoming debut extended play, titled Love Through It All. It's expected to drop later this fall on Roc Nation. His previous single "Set Yourself Free" was produced by Burgos and powerhouse Frans Mernick, who has worked with everyone from Foster the People and A$AP Rocky to Miguel and A$AP Ferg.
Follow Johnny Burgos on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Jason Scott is a freelance music journalist with bylines in B-Sides & Badlands, Billboard, PopCrush, Ladygunn, Greatist, AXS, Uproxx, Paste and many others. Follow him on Twitter.
POP⚡DUST | Read More…
PREMIERE | FRND Reimagines 'Erase' With Radiant Lights
Shenna Asks For Brutal Honesty In "Conversation"
PREMIERE | Brandon Stansell Pens Love Struck New Song "For You"