SLOWJAMZ/.
Still from Slowjamz/. MV on YouTube
Emerging from Birmingham's gritty and creative underbelly, Theo — operating under the alias “$witchblade/.” — stands as a premier figure in the city's underground music scene and an undeniable icon in the making. His artistic foundation was poured during the transformative SoundCloud era, a period that championed talent and experimentation over polished industry formulas.
Inspired by the boundless creativity he discovered through a mix of his own heritage and social media, Theo began constructing his own auditory universe. His sound feels both personal and universally relatable. Theo is more than a musician; from other projects such as Sample The Kids and TAD STRANGE he has become known for his authenticity and stage presence. He is a storyteller for the new age. He captures the anxiety, ambition, and spirit of a generation, transforming the blueprints of his influences into something his own. He is not just participating in the culture but is actively shaping it, solidifying his place as a vital voice from the UK's second city.
Storyboard of music video
When the brief for this music video hit the House Of Portway inbox, it was an immediate yes. Our primary goal, developed in close partnership with Theo’s creative partner Latrell, was to create a visual piece that felt authentically rooted in the artist’s identity. From the first listen of Theo’s track, our vision was simple; we wanted to reflect the raw, unfiltered spirit of Birmingham.
This philosophy dictated our approach. You’ll notice a significant use of secondary shots throughout the video — glimpses of the city's markets, its streets, and its energy. These moments were essential to building the authentic atmosphere we sought. They ground the performance in a real place, making it feel like a chapter from Theo’s story.
In the final product you can sense five to ten percent of the House Of Portway DNA. We believe that’s exactly how it should be. The role is to be a guide; to help steer the vision in the most potent direction and to refine brilliant ideas into a cohesive, impactful whole. This project was a collaboration between House Of Portway and the $witchblade/. camp.
While officially credited as the director on this project, our direct contributions were specific and focused: we developed the initial storyboard to provide a narrative skeleton, designed the bold title card that sets the video’s tone, and were on hand to help shoot several key scenes. The overwhelming majority of the execution, however, rests on the immense talent of the videographer, Latrell.
