I had to share this video. It is such a beautiful portrait of emotions between two women who broke up. The song is by Gotye called Somebody That I Used To Know feat. Kimbra. The video is eye catching yet simple and I just couldn’t stop watching it.

The video is directed by Jules Dameron and is an expression of ASL music composed by a team of Deaf and CODA (Child of Deaf Adult) members, including the crew and cast members. The CODAs group started in 1983 and is an international organization. There are a number of CODA chapters in the United States and similar groups have formed in Australia, England, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands.

The message attached to the video:

“The inspiration of this concept was to allow communities largely under served by music to experience the passion and emotion it conveys, most take for granted. It also serves to expose and raise awareness about ASL art and deaf culture to the world. It demonstrates how music cannot only be heard, but be seen as well, by giving the viewer an aural and visually rich experience simultaneously.”

About Azora Telford

Azora Telford is from Oakland, California and identifies as a lesbian. Here is an excerpt from the interview she did for with Planet Deafqueer. Read more HERE.

Azora: Growing up in a deaf family and being the only hearing one I was asked to show what music looked like beginning at the age of 4. I never stopped. I always tried to get my family to really feel the emotion that music conveys. So when I met with my creative team, Terrylene and Sherry Hicks, we took it to the next level. I was able to be in a comfortable mindset where I could let the art flow.

I wanted to see the deaf community be on target with music so I started to dig through music, going through underground hits and really feeling the music. I wanted to see the deaf community know and feel a hot song that would be playing on every radio channel and not come out with a song that would become old quick. This song by Gotye really got me. I was able to breathe this song and feel that it is one of those songs, we as a whole, could relate to. So I was sold that song was going to be the first!

If you would like to check out more music videos like the one I posed about, visit CM7 Deaf Film Camp’s YouTube channel HERE.