San Francisco artist Christopher Willits has outdone both himself and many of his contemporaries with Opening, his recently released audio/visual album. Not only did he write a seven-song album, but he also put together a stunning 45-minute visual accompaniment for the music. Says Willits of the artwork, “For years, I’ve imagined the work I do in music, photography, video/film, immersive audio and meditation all coming into one space.” With Opening he has achieved that union quite impressively.
Willits describes his inspiration for the project: “I have always loved nature documentaries since I was a kid, but rarely love the commentary and narrative they create. For a long time, I’ve wanted to make a piece that overlaps the sounds I hear in my head with the beautiful Earth I seek out with my eyes. I love the films Baraka and Koyaanisqatsi, but feel that both are so heavy with such negative dichotomies about humans and the Earth. I wanted to create an inspiring, lifting feeling of openness. We can change and transform, absolutely we can. It begins with our own personal opening.”
You can stream Opening below:
While listening to the album, view the accompanying film below:
Opening is out now in digital and physical formats through Ghostly International.