According to Mike Skinner in 2001, we were instructed to listen to The Streets. At that time, he was releasing his debut album, Original Pirate Material, which would later become a cult classic and a best-seller, despite his lyrical statement suggesting otherwise.
Now, we will be watching on the large display screen as Skinner releases his debut movie, The Darker The Shadow, The Brighter The Light. The film is described as a “tripped out neo-noir” murder thriller and follows the seemingly mundane life of a DJ down on his luck. Skinner is responsible for writing, directing, filming, editing, and creating the score for the project, and he also stars in it.
The lyricist’s songs capture the beauty of everyday life, from mundane activities like video outlets and texting women to simple pleasures like scrambled eggs and fried tomato. The Streets recently released their first full-length album in over 10 years, titled None Of Us Are Getting Out Of This Life Alive, which features collaborations with other artists.
Skinner explained to Sky News at the premiere in London that the movie is a musical, with the songs serving as voiceovers. However, he jokingly stated not to expect jazz hands or dancing around on lamppost – that’s for the next film. He described the film as a simple story that initially had a film noir vibe but then became more elaborate.
Scenes were filmed at various London venues such as Visions and Hoxton Hall, as well as Manchester’s Warehouse Project and Club Liv. The filmmaker, who also worked as a DJ, incorporated his real-life experiences into the movie without attempting to be overly clever or extravagant, aiming for a budget-friendly production.
Skinner is a perfectionist. He tried to get funding in 2019, but no one wanted to give him any money. Even established directors can’t make films, so he knew he didn’t have a chance. At the end of 2019, he decided to do it himself because it wouldn’t get done otherwise. It’s really hard.
With the movie about to be released, he admits that he feels overwhelmed, particularly with the final touches in the days leading up to the premiere. He went from feeling stressed and frustrated to having makeup applied and conducting interviews in a matter of days.
