Longtime Radiohead creative director Dilly Ghent commissioned Ellis Chai Bahl and Johnny Chew to do a video treatment for 1st Base Runner’s busy yet brooding single “Near Me.” Songwriter Tim Husmann is seen sitting in the dark contemplating his insecurities and late night fears amid the trappings of the neighborhood bar: pool table, dart board, headlights shining through blinds off mirrored sections of wall, a tiny ballerina figure spinning in front of him, a cigarette sitting in an ashtray with a spindly plume of smoke. Chairs disassemble and then reassemble. He sings “Will you come near me, would you come for me, would you come?” like a mantra holding himself together while ghostly guitar work rings out in a reverberating arpeggio and staccato riffs over shuffling rhythms. These simple elements suggest hazy and dreamlike experiences that comfort you while you’re stuck in your own thoughts before sleep takes over. The whole thing feels like nothing happened yet emotionally it conveys an undeniable feeling of release. It’s rare that a songwriter can lay out his anxieties and insecurities so vividly yet effect a subtle catharsis. Watch the video for “Near Me” on YouTube and connect with 1st Base Runner at the links below.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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