Khiara Ayaba Drops Double A-Side Record With “Even” and “Moonlight Games”
There’s something special about getting to build with the same artists over time. For my latest project as a director, I teamed back up with Khiara Ayaba and her longtime collaborator and husband, producer 8Mos, to create visuals for her new double A-side, Even / Moonlight Games.
The two records show completely different sides of Khiara’s sound. Even is light, warm and Caribbean-inspired, with an Afrobeat pulse that feels made for summer. At its center is a simple idea about loyalty and being there for the people you love through the highs, lows and everything in between. We wanted the visual to carry that same energy, keeping things colorful, playful and easy.
Moonlight Games lives somewhere else entirely. The record is sensual, intimate and sexy, so we leaned into that atmosphere visually, using the moon as a backdrop and allowing the imagery to feel a little more mysterious. The contrast between the two songs is part of what made the project fun. One feels like daylight, while the other comes alive after the sun goes down.
We shot both visuals in a single day with an incredible team, moving between two very different worlds while still making them feel connected to Khiara and the larger project.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with Khiara and 8Mos before, including on Closer to Shore, and every time we come back together, the work gets a little sharper. There’s a trust that develops when you continue creating with the same people. You learn each other’s language, understand what matters to the artist and can spend less time figuring each other out and more time actually making something.
As an artist from the Bahamas, Khiara brings a warmth and lightness to her work that feels genuinely connected to who she is. She’s always eager to push a project further and make sure what we create feels worthy of the music. 8Mos produces Khiara’s music and has been her longtime creative collaborator, so there’s already a strong musical language between the two of them before we ever step onto set.
Even and Moonlight Games gave us a chance to translate two very different sides of that relationship into visuals. More than anything, this project feels like another chapter in a collaboration that continues to grow, and I think that growth is evident every time we get together to create.
Watch the visuals for Even and Moonlight Games, and be sure to support Khiara Ayaba and 8Mos as they continue their journey.
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