Media students support local artist on music video project

Media students from Oaklands College are in the director’s chair for an exciting project which will see them create music videos for a local musician. 

The Level 3 and Foundation Degree students will be making videos for ‘The Ben Drake Collective’ a band spearheaded by solo artist Ben Drake. The brief is deliberately minimal – simply to create videos for tracks from the latest album based entirely on their interpretation of Ben’s music. 

The students have entire creative direction and can make the videos in what they consider the most appropriate style after listening to the song’s content. 

At a visit to Welwyn Garden City Campus last week, Ben met with the students to share his background and story so far before discussing their ideas. 

Performing as a solo artist and with the support of the Ben Drake Collective, Ben often plays live in venues in St Albans and is a regular interviewee and performer on Radio Verulam. He has released four albums under the Collective and one solo album and plays at festivals all over England. 

After the meeting, Ben said: “I’m looking forward to seeing the student’s interpretations of my work. Their input will give something to share to accompany these songs that will not only promote my music to a wider audience, but will also enable the student’s art to be viewed by people who perhaps wouldn’t have seen it otherwise.”