Hiro Murai

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Hiro Murai is a Tokyo-born filmmaker based out of Los Angeles. His most notable works include music videos for internationally successful artists such as Childish Gambino, Earl Sweatshirt, Chet Faker, Flying Lotus, David Guetta, The Shins, The Fray, Bloc Party and Queens of the Stone Age. In 2013 he directed the short film Clapping for the Wrong Reasons. In 2016, he directed several episodes of the comedy-drama Atlanta, collaborating again with Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino.

Murai moved to Los Angeles when he was nine years old and later graduated with a degree from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. After graduation, Murai turned to freelance work where he was the director of photography for a lot of music videos, as well as VFX and storyboarding, most notably for Ace Norton. After some time, Murai began to direct low budget films.

Video Hiro Murai

Career

In 2012, Murai directed "Chum", a song by American rapper Earl Sweatshirt.
In 2013, Murai directed "Hive", a song by American rapper Earl Sweatshirt.
In 2013, Murai directed "3005", a song by American hip hop recording artist Childish Gambino. It premiered December 6, 2013.
In 2013, Murai directed "Telegraph Ave", a song by American hip hop recording artist Childish Gambino.
In 2013, Murai directed "Sweatpants", a song by American hip hop recording artist, Childish Gambino.
In 2013, Murai directed "Smooth Sailing", a song by American rock band, Queens of the Stone Age.
In 2014, Murai directed "Never Catch Me", a song by American music producer, Flying Lotus.
In 2014, Murai directed "#CAKE", a song by American hip hop duo, Shabazz Palaces.
In 2014, Murai directed "Gold", a song by Australian musician Chet Faker. It premiered August 12th, 2014.
In 2014, Murai directed "Sober", a song by American recording artist, Childish Gambino.
In 2014, Murai directed "Do You", a song by American rock band, Spoon.
In 2015, Murai directed "Grief", a song by American recording artist, Earl Sweatshirt.
In 2016, Murai directed "Take It There", a song by an English trip hop group, Massive Attack.
In 2016, Murai directed seven episodes from the debut season of Atlanta, a comedy-drama series created, executive produced, and starring Donald Glover. Murai had previously collaborated with Glover, directing music videos for his rapper alter ego Childish Gambino.

Maps Hiro Murai

Videography

Make Believe - "Small Apartment Party Epiphany" (2005) (co-directed with Brandon Driscoll-Luttringer and Steve Drypolcher)
Death Cab for Cutie - "Crooked Teeth" (2006) (director of photography)
Death Cab for Cutie - "Someday You Will Be Loved" (2006) (director of photography)
Teddybears - "Cobrastyle" (2006) (director of photography)
Aqueduct - "Living a Lie" (2007) (director of photography)
The Submarines - "Submarine Symphonika" (2009) (director of photography)
Bloc Party - "Signs" (2009)
Busdriver - "Me-Time" (2009)
The Fray - "Heartless" (2009)
Soulsavers - "Unbalanced Pieces" (2009)
Raphael Saadiq - "Staying In Love" (2009)
B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams - "Airplanes" (2010)
Usher featuring Pitbull - "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" (2010)
Lupe Fiasco - "The Show Goes On" (2010)
Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine - "Stereo Hearts" (2011)
3OH!3 - "We Are Young" (2011) (part of OMG! Everywhere)
Scissor Sisters vs. Krystal Pepsy - "Shady Love" (2012)
Friends - "Mind Control" (2012)
The Shins - "It's Only Life" (2012)
David Guetta featuring Sia - "She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)" (2012)
Earl Sweatshirt - "Chum" (2012)
Earl Sweatshirt - "Hive" (2013)
Cults - "High Road" (2013)
Childish Gambino - "3005" (2013)
Queens of the Stone Age - "Smooth Sailing" (2014)
Childish Gambino - "Sweatpants" (2014)
Spoon - "Do You" (2014)
Chet Faker - "Gold" (2014)
Shabazz Palaces - "#Cake" (2014)
Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar - "Never Catch Me" (2014)
Childish Gambino - "Telegraph Ave" (2014)
Childish Gambino - "Sober" (2015)
Earl Sweatshirt - "Grief" (2015)
Massive Attack - "Take It There" (2016)
Baauer - "Day Ones" (2016)
Michael Kiwanuka - "Black Man in a White World" (2016)
A Tribe Called Quest - "Dis Generation" (2017)

HYPEBEAST Magazine Interviews Hiro Murai | HYPEBEAST

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Awards

(2009) MVPA Award for Best Video under $25K. The Fray "Heartless"
(2012) Best Music Video Lists: Pitchfork / BuzzFeed / Consequence of Sound / Video Static / Co.Create / NPR Music - for St. Vincent "Cheerleader" and Earl Sweatshirt "Chum"
(2013) MVPA Award for Best Electronic Video for She Wolf.
(2013) MVPA Best Electronic Video: David Guetta - "She Wolf"
(2014) UKMVA Director of the Year / Best Rock / Indie Video International QOTSA for Smooth Sailing.
(2014) Best Music Videos Lists: The Verge, Pitchfork, IMVDB, Stereogum

180 Interview Hiro Murai and Mac DeMarco - YouTube

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Press

Juxtapoz Magazine Interview
Billboard Magazine Interview
Fader Interview: Flying Lotus "Never Catch Me"
Noisey: Behind the Lens Interview
Myspace: Director's Chair Interview
Juxtapose: Earl Sweatshirt Art
Yours Truly: Kino: Hiro Murai Interview
405: Director's Corner Interview
Fader Interview: Behind the Scenes: Frank Ocean Grammy Performance
IMVDb Video Chats: Earl Sweatshirt
2012 LA Film Festival: Scissor Sisters "Shady Love"
SHOOT 2010 New Director Showcase
Stash Magazine: Nokia, World of Ovi
Stash Magazine: The Fray Heartless
Spin Magazine: Bloc Party "Signs"
White-Screen.jp - St. Vincent - Juicy Fruit - The Fray
2009 LA Film Festival : Bloc Party "Signs"

Behind the Scenes of Flying Lotus' âNever Catch Meâ Video with ...

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References