“It wasn't autumn, although it was October 5th. The heat kept repeating and I was longing for something more. Bittersweet is my nature….”, a self-emotional lyric accompanied by soft vocals and an intimate tone is performed by Paula Jeanine Bennett. In the background, Richard X Bennett plays a jazzy acoustic piano with progressive chords, creating a rich artistic atmosphere. The visualization features a home music room and a window, paired with a contemporary art setting atop a Brooklyn building, bringing the theme of Bittersweet to life. This experience is presented in a concise 23-second vertical micro video. 

Next video. “After the clouds part, we stand together so unfurled. Not silvered or not bronzed, pure gold. Not gilded but pure gold”, a brief preview of The Golden Time song was presented. In 26 seconds, the video featured an artistic expression through multi-layered framing, predominantly using blue colour tones and a red flower symbol. It represents a visual arts exploration that links the depth of poetry's meaning with reality. 

Richard X Bennett and Paula Jeanine Bennett are a couple based in Brooklyn, known for their work as artists, musicians, composers, and performers. Richard, who is also an independent filmmaker, has created various recordings featuring modernistic, jazzy, and soulful music with a distinctive sound. Paula, a multidisciplinary artist, possesses a deep commitment to her creative pursuits. As a composer, musician, lyricist, visual artist, and movement artist, she frequently undertakes projects that integrate her diverse skill set. 

Paula is also a master of poetry. "The longer I walk the creative path, the more I search to express myself in harmonious disciplines. As a percussionist, I have always felt the need for many colors in sound.  As a performance and visual artist, I seek textures for my hand, eye and step.  As a singer, I often visualize the note before I hit it.  As a word person and composer,  I want a song to paint a picture in the listener's mind, and if their body moves to the music, all the better.  More and more it seems to me that it is all the same clay:  timbre, texture, color, movement, song." - Paula Jeanine Bennett on her biography website.

The seven vertical micro videos and two mixed video songs are part of this couple's promotion for their upcoming album, AMARYLLIS 2, on Ropeadope Records. I have always appreciated their distinct blend of musical styles, and I had the opportunity to meet with them again to discuss their new album, AMARYLLIS 2, and the process behind producing their engaging art micro-videos. 

Q: Hi Richard and Paula, nice to meet you again! 

A: Hi Naratama, finally, we meet again. 

Q: What inspired you to create seven micro-videos plus two remix videos from this album, and what central theme or story connects the song and music from beginning to end? 

A: (Richard) I wanted each song to have its own visual world. They're connected by several recurring motifs: an amaryllis that links sections, a silver frame, and a short raw performance snippet that reminds viewers that we're real people. The lyrics are often about love, pain and the natural world so the visuals reflect that. 

Q:  How do you balance the visual and sound experimentation with emotional accessibility between you both? 

A: (Richard) Paula's voice has an unmannered plaintive quality. That always keeps it accessible. 

Q: What unique strengths does each of you bring to the creative process in this mini-video? 

A: (Richard) I make the music and videos; Paula is the lyricist, singer, percussionist, and dancer. 

Q:  In "The Golden Time," your visual color is dominated by a blue background, while in "The Poem Is in My Step," you use superimposed visuals in an outdoor location. How did you imagine the visual art for each song? Was it inspired by the beat or the lyrics? 

A: (Richard) I can't say. When it looks good to me, I stop. Often the visual comes first. 

Q: How was the video production process? Did you both direct the videos independently? 

A: (Richard) I assemble them from selfie performance footage and videos of Paula dancing and then add my collage ideas. I shoot it all using a cheap phone. 

Q: When are you going to release the album, and what do you hope listeners will feel or discover? 

A: (Paula) Amaryllis 2 is out October 2, 2026 on Ropeadope Records. We hope everyone enjoys it for both background and deep listening and are moved by the lyrics and music. 

Q: If people want to watch and explore your micro-videos, where can they see them? How can they contact you if they want to get in touch? 

A: (Richard) The videos will appear individually on our social media leading up to the release. You can see it all together on YouTube - Seven Amaryllis 2 by Richard Bennet. You can also contact us individually on our Instagram @richardxbennett @paulajeaninebennett 

Q: Got it. I can’t wait to hear your full new album. Let’s meet again for a coffee, before you release it in October. 

A: Yes, we like that. Thank you Naratama. 

Written by Naratama (April 2026) / Photo by Richard X Bennet