F  L  A  U  N  T

Los Angeles artist/musician Gretchen Lieberum (co-founder of Prince tribute band Princess with actress Maya Rudolph) debuts a new video for the classic song “Don’t Explain,” premieres today exclusively on Flaunt. The record will reside on her upcoming album of uniquely reimagined and modernized jazz and pop standards, This May Only Be A Dream, out May 7th. 

For her version of the Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog penned torch song, Lieberum enlisted BAFTA award winning composer Keefus Ciancia to craft the track, incorporating driving drum loops with bursts of explosive big-band horns around Lieberum’s sultry and lush lead vocal with a delivery that’s both intimate and powerful.

“I’ve loved the song ‘Don’t Explain’ since I was teenager exploring my dad’s vast vinyl collection,” Lieberum states. “Of course, Billie Holiday’s version first mesmerized and haunted me, particularly the exquisite emotional expression of the anger and sadness of betrayal in the song.” 

Lieberum first recorded the vocal at her friend’s home studio in LA, accompanied only by piano, before sending it to producer Keefus Ciancia. Keefus removed the piano and added the mesmerizing drum loops. Getting together in a studio back in LA, they brought in the amazing drummer Jay Bellerose who added another layer of live drums. Keefus also had the idea to use a baritone saxophone line in lieu of a bass part, bringing in horn player David Ralicke to do the honors. 

Ciancia adds what inspired him to create the track: “It was the delivery of Gretchen’s vocals. I’d listen to it acappella and build my own images out of the story. I wanted the song to escalate like a lovers quarrel, having the tempo rise in the same way. Before the fight really starts, it breaks down to the lyric ‘you know that I love you, and what love endures.’ At this point, it seems that she’s really vulnerable, but after that I twisted the story musically to be more of a powerful point of view from Gretchen. After that section, she’s in charge.”

To create the video, Lieberum reached out to her friend, choreographer James Alsop (she/her), who’s worked with Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and whose work will next be seen in the final season of Ryan Murphy’s Pose and the HBOMax reboot of Gossip Girl. Lieberum had envisioned Alsop not only choreographing, but also starring in the video. She states, “James is not only a dear friend, but I’m also a huge admirer of her tremendous talent as a dancer and choreographer, and was thrilled when she agreed to collaborate with me on the video. Her overwhelming fierceness, charisma, power and beauty truly shine in her performance, bringing the story of the song to life.”

The resulting video, directed by filmmaker Jacob Estes (also Lieberum’s husband), is both a gorgeous black and white throwback to classic dance numbers of the past and a thoroughly modern expression of exuberance and joy.