Nina Kraviz Video Scandal Explained
About a month ago Resident Advisor released their first video of an anticipated new Between the Beats web series: Nina Kraviz. The eleven minute clip sparked quite a bit of controversy because the filmmakers, and possibly Resident Advisor, questionable intentions. Instead of focusing on Nina’s passion for music, they portrayed her as a marketable object. The video is beautiful but not because of any bubble-bath scenes. Nina is a beautiful woman, her knowledge of music and her library is overwhelming, but ultimently it is her natural profound ability to control a crowd and play what she enjoys, that places her on a pedastal for all DJ’s. She is the best female DJ in the world right now, and ranks among the very best DJ’s worldwide with her distinct appreciation for balancing the music primarily, and the mixing secondarily.
The problem stems not from Nina and her actions, but the way Resident Advisor presented her in the video. The filmer and/or editor obviously were trying to portray her in a way most appealing to people watching the video. While I feel like this might not be the most “fair” or objective way of presenting a DJ on tour, RA used her good looks and marketability to their advantage. The video is not about her sexuality or even about the general fact that she is a woman, but more about what Shane Silver accurately describes as, the philosophy of solitude and impermanence. Nina is focused on the music but everyone around her is fixated on her looks and/or sexuality. Anyone who has seen Nina play will agree that she’s all about the music, playing records, not just new, but also pieces of history, that she has accumulated through countless hours of digging through record stores. Her presence on stage is not about selling herself but simply reflects the enjoyment she gets from playing these records.
This girl loves music, and enjoys sharing that music with an audience. She loves working hard with a passion but not because she has some preconceived notion of herself and being famous, but rather because she simply enjoys it like nothing else.
Do YOU think Nina Kraviz deserves the edit she got from RA? The video can be found below…beware. For more information on the Detroit Premiere Artist Nina Kraviz and her dedication to the real music check out the full written RA Nina Kraviz interview.
Nina will be playing alongside techno DJ Ben Klock at Output, the new two-story Brooklyn techno and deep house venue! Save the date for Wednesday July 3rd, and more information on tickets will be posted soon, upon release.