Rethinking the bonds of brotherhood in Russia’s conservative south

Real-life stories of friendship and brotherhood are brought to life in luminous portraiture in the latest drop for Russian artist Mav-d.

The video for Mav-d’s track Somebody unfolds against the backdrop of the musician’s native North Ossetia, and its eclectic, bustling capital of Vladikavkaz. Shot on film, the story follows two brothers — one of whom is played by Mav-d’s real-life sibling.

Utilising director Georgiy Kazakov-Pokrovsky’s keen eye for detail, the cinematic video looks at boyhood with a nuanced and affectionate gaze designed to challenge the idea of conventional masculinity in a traditionally conservative region.

The topic hits close to home for Mav-d, otherwise known as Vyacheslav Bazaev. The artist has often talked of the special bond he shares with his own brothers — and his artistic alias is an acronym of his and his brothers’ names.

Shot earlier this summer in North Ossetia, Somebody is a collaborative effort between the local artistic community Hajime Records and the Moscow-based production team of Koshta studio.

You can find out more on North Ossetia’s burgeoning music scene by following Hajime records on Instagram.