I can say with absolutely zero exaggeration that Philadelphia based musician Shamir’s video “On My Own” is easily the most impressive quarantine video I have seen so far. Not just because the color scheme of the video sings to my pastel goth heart, not just because Shamir filmed and created each visual all on his own, while still managing to make the video look 100% professional, but because he wrote the song about a year ago in the aftermath of a breakup, and yet the song itself is eerily perfect for the current lockdown.
“I don’t mind to live all on my own/And I never did,”. It’s definitely a good thing that Shamir, a self described introvert, feels ok being with himself because that is literally the reality that we are all facing. Everything about this video is very current. Dropped at the beginning of Pride month, the Queer musician wears secondhand dresses and pale purple braids, while strumming an electric yellow guitar. The single drop also follows a recent limited Bandcamp Day track released with proceeds supporting Center For Black Equity, BLM Philly and the Philadelphia Bail Fund.
It’s absolutely mind blowing to think that Shamir is only 25 years old. Not only is he the founder of his own label Accidental Pop Star Records, though his upcoming fall LP will be released on no label at all, he also voiced a character on the uniquely funny Netflix show Tuca & Bertie, writes a TV column for Talkhouse, and does it all while having the voice of an angel. And looking damn good while doing it.