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Friday Five: Fraea, Katana Da Don, and more new Minnesota music videos

by Cecilia Johnson

April 29, 2016

Fraea, "Criminal"

Pop duo Fraea released a music video for "Criminal" this week, interpreting their lead single with inky swirls, smothering white leather costuming, and desaturated shots of home life. Director Maria Juranic also worked on Doomtree's "Final Boss" video, and while "Criminal" shares the former's careful attention to light and dark, it's a hazier, more wistful slice of Juranic's portfolio. Listen to new album Bend Your Bones here, and see Fraea's Icehouse release show tomorrow night.

Katana Da Don, "Snow"

The title of "Snow" might suggest gentle, falling flurries, but Katana Da Don raps with the force of a blizzard in her new music video from Killing Joke Films. She's finishing up an album called Kut Throat after writing a novel and a poetry collection, and she just joined Carnage the Executioner's HECATOMB hip-hop collective. As her sword-inspired name implies, she's here to slay. (Heads up: this video contains some violence and strong language.)

Ashley DuBose, "I Want A Love (feat. Mike Dreams)"

At this year's Minnesota Music Summit, which took place from April 7-9, attendees learned from music industry experts and saw the premiere of new band documentary The Big Wu Way. They also enjoyed this performance by pop vocalist Ashley DuBose. Joined by longtime collaborator Mike Dreams, DuBose charmed the audience with her 2013 tune about being in love.

Carnage the Executioner, "How To Get Away With Murder"

Carnage the Executioner is a steadfast Twin Cities rap talent, and he proves it in "How To Get Away With Murder," the second single from The MN Mean Movement. The Killing-Joke-Films-made video splices a variety of old movie and cartoon footage with black-and-white clips of Carnage spitting bars. Interesting fact from the video: Carnage opened for Method Man when the latter stopped by the Cabooze back in 2013. Stop by Fifth Element on the evening of May 6 for his album release celebration. (Note: more strong language in this one.)

Poliça, Lowertown Line

Poliça stopped by PBS to film a Lowertown Line episode last month, and the resulting mini-documentary is one of the band's most comprehensive profiles yet. In addition to performing "Lime Habit," "Someway," "Wedding," "Melting Block," "Lately," and "Baby Sucks," band members talked about lyrics, touring, their origins as a band (read: Ryan Olson), and how they chose their name (it actually has little to do with the Polish word for "policy"). Catch the band this summer at Rock the Garden.

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.