Prominent artists including Charli XCX, Alex Kapranos, Ciara, and others pay tribute to esteemed music video director Diane Martel, lauding her as a sensational artist.
Diane Martel, a renowned figure in the music video industry, has sadly passed away at the age of 63, according to a statement from her family. Martel's impressive career spanned over three decades, during which she worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Martel began her career in the early 90s, directing the first music video for hardcore hip-hop group Onyx's 'Throw Ya Guns'. From there, she went on to work with a diverse range of artists, including Mariah Carey, The Killers, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Pharrell, Justin Timberlake, Charli XCX, and many more.
One of Martel's most notable projects was her work on Miley Cyrus' divisive performance at the 2013 MTV VMAs and the 'Bangerz' tour. She also directed the controversial videos for Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' and Miley Cyrus' 'We Can't Stop'.
In addition to her work in music videos, Martel also ventured into film projects and got involved in dance and choreography. She directed the videos for '3' by Britney Spears and 'Read My Mind' by The Killers, as well as 'My All', 'Dreamlover', and 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey.
Martel's contributions to the music industry were recognised in 2005, when she was nominated for Best Direction at the VMAs, up for the award with Francis Lawrence for Jennifer Lopez's song 'Get Right'.
In 2022, Martel was named the Harlan J. Strauss Visiting Filmmaker at the University of Oregon, a position she held until her passing. During her time there, she led a series of community events.
Tributes have been pouring in from artists and fans across social media, with Ciara, Charli XCX, and Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand expressing their gratitude for Martel's belief in them and the magic they created together.
Martel is survived by her Aunt Gail Merrifield Papp, three cats (Poki, PopPop, PomPom), and many friends. Her last music video was for Ciara's song 'Ecstasy'.
Martel's passing marks the end of an era in the music video industry. Her innovative and groundbreaking work will continue to inspire future generations of directors and artists alike.
