Director's Works
Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Luther Karena Evans
Karena is an artist of depth and purpose, weaving meaningful stories across film, music, and television.
A perceiver, driven by her love of story and a persistent craving for truth. Karena is deeply curious about the capacity of the heart, how it shifts and transforms through conflict and connection. With a stylized, sensitive and intimate lens, her culturally rooted work explores nuanced narratives about the complexity of the human condition.
She is the first woman to be honored with the prestigious Prism Prize 'Lipsett Award' in 2018. That same year, she took home ‘Best Director’ at the Much Music Video Awards and ‘Video of the Year’ at the BET Awards for Drake’s ‘God’s Plan’. Karena has been awarded twice as ‘Director of the Year’ at the 2018 BET Hip-Hop Awards and 2019 BET Awards. In 2020, she earned the Grand Prix at Cannes Lions for the first of its kind, interactive experience ‘Swipe Night’ for Tinder. In 2024, she was honored with The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment ‘Breakthrough Award’ in recognition of her impactful contribution to the industry.
Whether behind the camera or in front, Karena is devoted to representing the underrepresented.
Directed with Karena Evans’ signature restraint and elegance, the Fela-produced music video evokes a warm realism and introspection that aligns perfectly with the song’s nostalgic rhythm. “Luther” premiered on April 11th and has already garnered over eleven million views, following the single's eight consecutive weeks on Billboard's Top 100. Kendrick Lamar and SZA will begin their joint North American and European tour this weekend.
The two artists are portrayed against striking architectural backdrops, embodying a quiet intensity and capturing intimate moments. SZA and Lamar appear together in only one scene, a captivating wide-angle shot of the pair sitting on a bench in a blue hallway. Separately, they transition seamlessly through softly lit scenes in a minimalist architectural landscape, enhancing the mood and sense of longing while establishing a romantic throughline. Confidently introspective, the sultry and cinematic romance draws the viewer in. The track explores themes of longing and devotion and features a sample from Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's rendition of "If This World Were Mine." That original version concludes the video, grounding the modern meditation in a timeless love story.
Evans is best known for her award-winning music videos, including “God’s Plan” for Drake and “Everyday Life” for Coldplay, as well as her work on television shows such as Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Dead Ringers, Snowfall, P-Valley, and Swipe Night for Tinder, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes Lions for being the first interactive experience of its kind. In 2024, she received The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Breakthrough Award for her impactful contributions to the industry.
