Jazz spoken-word artist ana monet has collaborated with B Ray to create a video that reflects the poetry and the harsh reality of her song Working Class Musicians, with a smart combination of cutout and model animation.

monet begins by saying 'Though it be a labour of love, a labour it is.' And the video closely follows her lyrics, about everything that happens when her and and her band are not performing. And it enhances the message with more smart observations. 

As well as the incessant travelling, by all kinds of modes of transport, the video observes the minor but unavoidable indignities that are part of the 'working class musician's' reality - including writing songs on the subway, having instruments mishandled by airport security and manning the merchandise desk after a sparsely attended show. 

Ultimately, beyond the drudgery, there are moments of actual music, played live in front of an appreciative audience, making it all worthwhile. Sort of. It's presented here as a brief respite, and as the band board another bus, the cardboard city around them is crushed flat. They have to keep moving, keep performing, to pay their bills. It finishes with monet repeating 'Playing to live...' 

Nicely done, and rather illuminating.