
Gradual overdose lyric video
Melissa Fruehling commissioned me to create a lyric video for her song Gradual Overdose, an emotional piece reflecting on the loss of her brother. The goal was to design a video that balanced lyrical clarity with visual storytelling, using a combination of custom footage and timed motion graphics. The final piece blended elegant typography with cinematic nature shots, enhancing the mood of the track while keeping the lyrics central.
Context:
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The video needed to convey the sorrowful, emotional tone of the song.
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Lyrics had to remain clear, legible, and well-timed with the vocal performance.
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Visuals had to feel cinematic yet approachable, using only self-recorded b-roll.
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Style had to balance motion graphics typography with natural storytelling visuals.
Approach
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Filmed all b-roll footage using an iPhone, focusing on natural imagery.
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Designed and timed on-screen lyrics to align with the vocals.
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Selected and styled a script-inspired typeface for elegance and readability.
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Edited the full lyric video in Final Cut Pro, handling visuals, typography, and timing.
Process:
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Captured b-roll footage around my neighborhood, emphasizing natural elements to complement the track’s mood.
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Chose a script-style font that conveyed elegance while staying legible.
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Timed the lyric entries to match the pacing of the vocal performance.
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Used fades and positioning to integrate typography seamlessly with the imagery.
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Combined footage, text, and sound into a cohesive final cut.
Outcome
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Delivered a polished lyric video that complemented the emotional weight of the song.
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Balanced film composition and motion typography into one cohesive piece.
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Released publicly on YouTube as the official video for Gradual Overdose.
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Demonstrated versatility in video editing, motion graphics, and visual storytelling.

