Daniel Rocque

I’m deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Will Cullen Hart, a true musical genius and co-founder of the Elephant Six, the legendary lo-fi psychedelic pop collective born in Ruston, Louisiana. Will was the creative force behind iconic projects like The Olivia Tremor Control and Circulatory System. The Elephant Six collective drew heavy inspiration from 1960s bands such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Zombies - and its influence shaped the indie/alternative music landscape in the 90s and early 2000s. Seminal acts like Of Montreal and Neutral Milk Hotel emerged from this movement, with Athens, Georgia, becoming the epicenter of the collective. Thirteen years ago, I attended an Elephant Six reunion show in Seattle, WA. By sheer luck, my friends and I found ourselves backstage, hanging out with Will in the green room after the show. We talked about all kinds of things: from the buzzy, DIY production techniques on his debut record “Black Foliage”, inspired by German Krautrock pioneers Faust, to David Bowie’s use of the quirky Stylophone! I brought a GoPro that night and set it up on a coffee table while we talked. The footage became a candid and gritty short piece I titled “Will Cullen Hart: Behind the Foliage.” It’s a glimpse into the brilliance and charm of an artist whose creativity left an indelible mark on music. (Link in my bio for the next few days.) Rest in peace, Will. Your influence and spirit will live on in the music you created. You will be deeply missed. #elephant6collective #willcullenhart

‘Crawdaddy’ will finally shed its shell @newportbeachfilmfest on Oct 16th! If you’re in LA or the OC, come on out and join us for the world premiere! 5pm @ Big Newport # 6 Tickets can be purchased from the link in bio. #newportbeachfilmfestival #nbff2023 #indiefilm #Crawdaddyfilm

After being shunned by festivals for its “unclassifiable and debaucherous” nature, ‘Crawdaddy’ has finally found its home at the Newport Beach Film Festival! The film weaves the stories of several millennials confronting a sense of generational malaise as they comically navigate the challenges of the new pandemic era - forcing them to shed their protective shells and confront their inner demons. Fuelled by a blend of Greek mythos and unbridled audacity, a love triangle is ignited within their COVID-19 bubble, testing the intricacies of their bonds. This film came together on a shoestring budget a few summers ago, and quickly unfolded into a surreal experience both on and off set. A true representation of art mimicking life. Special thanks to everyone that trusted us at the helm and graciously accepted our honorariums in exchange for their hard work. Also, big thanks to @newportbeachfilmfest for always supporting us and leaning in to our eccentric brand of filmmaking! #nbff2023 Starring: @kassandra.voss @juanriedinger @ofilthy @naomivice @frannyflanny @beckyzoey3 Hrothgar Mathews Production company: @artyoualive Produced by: @danrocque @kassandra.voss @bernieyao @brunaarbex @girljesus.me Written and directed by: @danrocque @kassandra.voss Original music: @michaelleonhart @moonie_ran @danrocque Nick Sandor Cinematography: @danrocque Production Design: @kassandra.voss Art Director: @maelihngkah Costumes: @karyna.onset @kassandra.voss @cassandraphillipsgrande Lighting Cameraman: @heyjohnwoods 1st AC: @niztalifa Location sound: @heraldsoundth Post Audio: @craftcavesound @davidaoudsound @reidhendry @jeff.luciani @alexshamku 
 Colourist/Post Finishing: @mattcolorswell VFX: @edinho_alem luazambuja

WIND & RAIN... My solo debut! Thank you @michaelleonhart for your musical genius. Your brass arrangements are world class and I feel so privileged that you agreed to work with me on this. Thank you @yuuki_matthews for your open mind, fluidity and finely tuned ear, your mix is real a vibe! Lots of love for my local heros Ed Budden, @hatt_marvey @mikeypascuzzi you brought this song to life! And finally, thank you @christophercolbert for the pristine mastering job, your taste is impeccable. Link in bio :) #slackersoul #soul #folkrock #newmusic #throwback #retrovibes

A dramatic picture of me. I usually don’t take myself so seriously; but in all seriousness, I just wanted to say that my solo debut single is on its way later this month... It’s called “Wind and Rain” and I feel good about it. Talk soon. 📸@kassandra.voss #newmusic #victoria #slackersoul #debut #beaconhillpark

Experimental... Last fall I got to play around with focal planes and lens distortion on an indie feature I photographed in Andalusia, Spain. Special thanks to the mesmerizing @kassandra.voss for instilling each frame with great depth and mystery. #blackandwhite #tiltshift #tiltshiftphotography #portraitphotography #portrait #filmmaking #indiefilm #setlife #cinematographer #directorofphotography

Guilty pleasures... If you missed the video last week, check it out. Link in bio! @artyoualive @kinkanyon #musicvideo #rubandtug #baboonlife #sanfrancisco #nightlife #darksecrets #massage #artyoualive

Excited to finally release this new video for my band @kinkanyon . We had a blast making it, running and gunning all the way from Vancouver to Orange County and back! Starring: @kassandra.voss Sound Design: @craftcavesound Link in bio! #roadtrip #california #pch #newportbeach #costamesa #donuts #musicvideo #baboon #everytimeidream #masquerade #slackersoul #psychrock #artyoualive

A new specimen! A down-and-out baboon escapes into her picturesque dream world... New @kinkanyon video this Friday. #everytimeidream #kinkanyon #slackersoul #musicvideo #psychrock #vancitybuzz #california #flowerpower #masquerade #pchroadtrip #artyoualive

#istanbul, an enchanting place to be when the sun is setting. #bosphorus #turkey #travel #sunset #magichour

No more Caesar’s. #LA #restaurant #boardedup #california #closed

Many mornings started this way during our production in Andalusia. It was a dream. #sunrise #indiefilm #cinematography #spain #horizon #filmmaking #takemeback