Rapper Aitch’s Learning Curve music video to feature at Manchester Film Festival 2022
- Director KC Locke speaks to NQ: 'It's a proud moment to have one of our best pieces of work be selected for a Manchester festival'
- Learning Curve will be screened at Manchester Odeon on 15 March
- Screening follows release of new single, Baby, ahead of Aitch's hotly-anticpiated debut album
The music video for the song, Learning Curve, by Manchester artist Aitch will feature in Manchester Film Festival’s opening screening of north west short films.
The video has amassed more than eight million views on YouTube and the festival will give fans the chance to see it on the big screen alongside other shorts made by filmmakers from the north west tomorrow (15 March).
Aitch, 22, is from Moston and began his career uploading freestyles on YouTube when he was 15.
He garnered national recognition with breakthrough single ‘Straight Rhymez’ three years later when he caught the eye of grime heavyweight Stormzy, leading to collaborations on Take Me Back To London and Pop Boy.
The director of the Learning Curve video, KC Locke, from Urmston, spoke to NQ ahead of the film festival.
“It’s a proud moment to have one of our best pieces of work that was shot in Manchester, with a Manchester crew and a Manchester artist on a Manchester based record label, be selected for a Manchester festival,” he said.
“Learning Curve was a product of progression and of me building a style as a director.
“It was my way of demonstrating how we can make a music video really modern and eye-catching. It’s the entire bag of tricks in one video.”
KC studied video production at south Trafford College and followed the path towards making music videos after graduating from Salford University.
Returning from a trip to behind the scenes of a music video shoot in America, KC was inspired to make films with musicians in his hometown.
He began his career directing music videos for Manchester cult heroes IAMDDB, Meeks and Bugzy Malone.
Since then, KC has gone on to work with some of the best-selling artists in the world including Stormzy, Ed Sheeran and Skepta.
He has won awards at numerous film festivals including Tokyo International Film Festival and New York International Film Awards for Best Music Video.
Despite his global success, KC maintains a solid connection to his Mancunian roots, telling NQ: “I’ve always fought to fly the flag for Manchester music, Manchester artists and Manchester greats in general.
“I can bring the experience I have from working around the world back home to bigger artists like Aitch and new up and coming artists like Pip Millet.
“I’ve always got my ear to the ground and I’m always here to help to support and nurture new talent.
“I’m proud of being from Manchester and being one of the pillars in the city that helps visualise these artists coming through.”
Manchester Film Festival is being held at Odeon Great Northern cinema in Deansgate from 12 – 20 March. The first session of North West Shorts, which features Learning Curve, will be held on 15 March at 17.30 and will be followed by a live Q&A.