Brooklyn-based queer producer DOV is back to debut an electric collaboration with recording artist TESHA entitled ‘Hold You Down’. The two artists found synergy in grief, as they both share a similarly traumatic experience with the loss of loved ones. DOV lost his mom in 2021 and TESHA lost both of her parents a few years ago; the two artists found comfort in making art and music together, expressing their deepest sorrows alongside someone who could understand what they were going through.
After completing his EP, DOV knew he wanted to add visuals to further expand on the journey he had been through since the day his mom passed. The music video for ‘Hold You Down’ expresses loss, grief and how strongly it can take a hold of every aspect of your life. Telling his own story, he understands that these feelings are universal human experiences, which is why he chose to put his thoughts in a song that people could relate to. Inspired by the art of ‘voguing’, DOV chose to collaborate with a voguer named Josiah “Aries” Martinez-Wade for the visual. Meant to represent his mother, Robert Jamie Mason, the voguer plays the main character, captivating the camera with his every move. For the visual, DOV partnered with one of his favourite directors to make this vision come to life.
Set in the 80’s this queer love story is one out of many untold queer love stories.
“The idea of addressing the theme of grief was the starting point of this collaboration. DOV gave me carte blanche for this project, which is rather rare in the music video industry and very enjoyable from a creative standpoint…. I crafted a disjointed story between a fiction film and a dance to represent the emotions that can follow after a period of mourning. Moments that are both hazy, surreal, and extremely intense. For me, dance is a poetic way to tell a lot of things. The film does not seek to convey a specific message or build a very linear narration. Everyone can find their own interpretation and understand what they wish. It was important for me that the film remained poetic and open to interpretation.” – Video Director Jean Charles Charavin
The son of a left wing political activist, DOV migrated to NYC from Tel Aviv’s conflicted ideals, as they didn’t fit the life that he wanted to lead as a queer liberal musician and artist. In 2017, the DOV project was born in Brooklyn – putting his own stamp on alt-pop, the eclectic project focuses on the many aspects of his life as a Queer, Jewish immigrant. Encapsulating his experience in NYC’s LGBTQ community, his unique production style has been described by Line of Best Fit as “music that glistens with contrasting textures” and by Clash as “striking, deeply original work, at once pop but also deeply alien.” Popular outlet Cool Hunting quotes “In crafting expressive, enticing pop tunes from his honest perspective, DOV acts as an ambassador for (and to) the LGBTQIA community. Though identity drives the track, its musical landscape makes the entire experience powerful.”
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‘Hold You Down’ is out now: https://tr.ee/w2SFSh-5A1
