Video premiere: Maxium Ludwig, ‘Make It Hurt’

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Maxim Ludwig, at Arroyo Seco Weekend in June (Photo by Samantha Saturday)

Whether he’s blasting away at classic rock or throwing down some blue-eyed soul, singer-songwriter Maxim Ludwig has never been shy about emoting. The stylish frontman probably has a closet full of sweat-stained suits as souvenirs of his live shows, damaged from laying it all out there, in song and in dance.

Which is why Ludwig’s new one-man show — the video for “Make It Hurt” — works so well. Again, Ludwig is laying it all out there, and it makes for pretty grand theater. The video was directed by Charley Damski, choreographed by Julia Crockett and shot by Conci Althouse, and we like what Ludwig has to say about it: “Inspirations include Pina Bausch, Jacques Tati, Twyla Tharp, Lucille Ball, Jerry Lewis, those air-blown figures outside of car dealerships and for the freestyle section: I’m just feeling myself.”

The single, produced by Sean O’Brien and featuring Garret Lang on keys, Tyler Cash on percussion, O’Brien on bass and Ludwig on everything else, is one of three singles Ludwig has released this year via Vapor Records, joining “The Villain” and “The Swimmer.” Compared to his 2017 full-length “Libra-Scorpio Cusp,” they see Ludwig going in a more soulful direction. Which is a good look for him.

||| Watch: The video for “Make It Hurt”

||| Also: Stream “The Villain”

||| Live: Maxim Ludwig opens for Jonathan Richman on Thursday at the Teragram Ballroom. Tickets.

||| Previously: “Big White Wall,” “No One Has to Know”