Two years after his debut album, the blessed and highly-favored BarringtonELECT returns with a visual diary that takes fans deeper into the mind of the Crying Entity himself.
Composed of Solange-style footage of family, live performances, and behind-the-scenes recordings of his album process, part one of this three-part series offers a more intimate look into the creative world of the elusive singer. Described as a deep venture into one’s self-awareness, the story told in Crying Entity offers a raw perspective on the strides and emotional struggles of being an up-and-coming artist.
“I focused on myself,” Barrington says of his time creating this film. “I sat, and marinated in every emotion I endured; the story shares that process, exposing the candid moments of creating with my team.”
With more of the documentary-style visual album still on the way, Elect is prepared to capture more of himself: a notion that kind of self care that feels needed in the time of Covid-19.
So what exactly does it mean to be a Crying Entity? We caught up with Barrington below!
Hey Barrington, how have you been?
I’ve been well, feeling vibrant.
It’s been nearly two years since you released Crying Entity, what makes now the time to put this film out?
At this time in our lives, peace of mind is not only a priority but a necessity. After my post-album hiatus, I gathered content in places I felt tranquil — a state of serenity embodying the essence of Crying Entity. Once I found peace with my efforts, I thought of Muhammad Ali’s quote: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” I figured I was ready.
Crying Entity features a mix of collected videos, can you tell us a bit about where these different pieces all come from?
Initially, I partnered with Gregory Thompson who filmed my live performances. We discussed collaborating on a documentary and immediately began to film studio and practice sessions. After his relocation abroad, I began capturing footage with an iPhone X. Once I realized the work was blooming, I reached out to my team to clip the thorns.
How long did it take to put this together?
I hate to say it, but it took about 3 years. If it was up to me, we’d still be producing.
What challenges did you face creating this?
I was confronted with challenges during post-production, I mention the film exposed candid moments, however, I failed to express the vulnerability I experienced doing so. It was a questionable time, molding the story and determining what to share. Also with the bulk of footage, I experienced difficulties with cutting clips. I felt every clip deserved a place in the film, however editors Chris Turiello & Ayxan Tan made things seamless for me.
This film is just part one, what can we expect from part two?
One can expect a softer side of me: insight on my musical journey, [my] roots, and new acoustic tracks I recorded throughout the duration of creating the film.
Alex Cruz 
Torino Washington
There are so many strong fashion moments in the film, can you tell us a bit about what inspires your personal style? And walk us through some of the fashion collabs that were part of this?
My personal style is fueled by a quote I wrote in 2012: “Regret-free risk, never accidents, but the pursuit of evolution.”
With fashion, I source looks that compliment the emotion I’m aiming to evoke. My eye is very unconventional, but with collaborative efforts, the vision resonates. I made a few connections with Theophillio, Bobby Day NYC, Martine Ali, and a few other major brands.
What do you want the audience to take away from watching this film?The premise of this project for me is the ability to create and release. As an artist it becomes inevitable attempting to create perfection. With this I had to perform sit back and let the work speak for itself. The audience should take away authenticity.
What do you think is the most impactful thing about BarringtonElect?My approach is raw, no filter. An unpredictable Aquarius!
How do you stay true to yourself, especially during such a trying time for black folk?
I remain true by knowing who I am and the direction I’m headed. I have a sense of entitlement when it comes to life, we‘re all created equal through God.
Who is your dream feature, living or dead?
Missy Elliott…we’d go hard!
Watch Part 1 of Crying Entity: The Film here.
