Dezeen Magazine

Kamiel Rongen creates Sea of Decay for Julien Mier music video

Music: musician and director Kamiel Rongen mixed water and oil with paint, sugar, and even an air freshener to create a series of misty surreal landscapes for this music video (+ movie).

Julien Mier's Sea of Decay music video by Kamiel Rongen

Rongen created the visuals to accompany Dutch musician Julien Mier's Sea of Decay track, which was inspired by the colours used in a film by Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli.

Julien Mier's Sea of Decay music video by Kamiel Rongen

"I was inspired by the film Nausicaä by Ghibli, where they are talking about the sea of decay, the garbage of the human on this planet, and loved the colours in it," Mier told Dezeen. "Kamiel was really open to put his stamp on it."

Julien Mier's Sea of Decay music video by Kamiel Rongen

The pair first met at a Dutch music festival in 2011, and when Mier moved to Amsterdam in 2015, they felt it was the best time to eventually collaborate.

Julien Mier's Sea of Decay music video by Kamiel Rongen

"A few weeks after the festival in 2011 I said to Julien, 'whenever you need a music video I would love to make it'," said Rongen, who previously created trippy visuals for his own track. "Although I'm not looking to make videos for other artists, I'm in love with Julien's compositions."

Although no set brief was provided, Rongen looked to the hues used in the Ghibli film for reference. To recreate them, he mixed different liquids within a large tank of water to form a series of mystical landscapes.

Julien Mier's Sea of Decay music video by Kamiel Rongen

Oil was used to make patterns on the water's surface, while different types of paint added colour to the landscapes. Sugar and an air freshener were used to create mist.

Julien Mier's Sea of Decay music video by Kamiel Rongen

"We edited it together so we had both our say in when to place what shot where," said Mier. "I felt also in the middle section the imagery Kamiel was creating felt like a ship entering the water, and that's quite vividly how I pictured the movement in the music."

Julien Mier's Sea of Decay music video by Kamiel Rongen

Sea of Decay is out now on King Deluxe records, and is available to purchase through the label's website.