Elais Park Has ‘Been Busy’ - Unpacking His Latest Release
words by Isabel Padilla
★
Head bopping, volume blasting, steps matching the beat of the song - that is what I was doing while listening to Elais Park’s latest release, ‘Been Busy.’ A punchy rap single, this track is another addition to an already extensive creative portfolio. From photographing some of your favorite artists like Wallows, Kid Bloom, BETWEEN FRIENDS and more, Nikoli Partiyeli (also known as Elais Park) has truly made a name for himself on both ends of the music industry. ‘Warmest Regards,’ his first EP, saw release back in 2019, and since then Nikoli has been busy, putting our three more singles to follow.
The video opens up to a disoriented Park, reaching to take the needle off of a spinning record self titled with “Been Busy.” Through initial impressions to the project’s creative direction, the viewer is already intrigued before the first beat is even dropped. Directed by himself and fellow photographer/videographer Aamir Khuller, the video is nothing short of a visual success, telling a short but impactful story of a deal gone right.
Cast in yellow lighting, the video seemed to allude to a 70s or 80s aesthetic, which casually matches with the car and large blocky phone Park uses to make his fateful call for the upcoming deal. The use of quick jump cuts, wide angle views and fast paced close up shots work perfectly as the the chorus rings heavy in your ears. Reminiscent of a Brockhampton ‘Saturation’ era sound, the mix of provocative lyrics with experimental beats and playfully pitched vocals further enforces the, ‘fuck with me I dare you,’ vibe Park has perfectly curated. Closing it all out, the final scene wraps up this energy as we we see Park drive away into the pink sunset, cash money flying behind him.
More of Elais Park’s music can be found on his Spotify, Soundcloud and Youtube. For his photographic work, you can find him at @nikoliparty on Instagram. I’m sure you will recognize a lot of familiar faces.
