Frocks galore, a Valentine’s Day surprise, sushi of doom, muddy rock, misuse of an iron and a scenic plane ride.
Flip Grater “Everybody Else Is Busy Mess”
The video sees Flip torture then kill a guy. This sounds gruesome, but on Amplifier she explains, “It’s done in a tongue-in-cheek way. I hope people get that!” That might be the intention, but I still found the video unpleasantly violent. Perhaps it could work if there were moments of lightness and humour in the video, but as it is, it’s hard to get much enjoyment watching someone torture another for no apparent reason.
Director: Logan McMillan
Fuser “You Will Know”
A bored cafe worker sends out paper darts, inviting four couples to a Valentine’s Day dinner. Much of the video is the couples (including two cute little kids) enjoying their dinners at the restaurant. This alternates with the lead singer of Fuser in the kitchen, giving a really serious-face delivery to the camera. At one point he jauntily taps the beat with a giant, sharp kitchen knife, which is terrifying. Stay in the kitchen, dude.
Note: This video is only available via Apple Music, but you can watch the first 30 seconds free.
Director: Ivan Slavov
Jakob “Safety In Numbers”
“Safety In Numbers” was a track from Jakob’s third album but it was their first song to receive video funding. It’s involves a plane flying over some snowy mountains. It’s nice. I dunno. I can’t deal with purely artistic videos that exist entirely outside the world of popular music. My usual frame of reference means nothing. Here’s a YouTube commenter with more insight:
Director: Ed Davis
Nga Taonga Sound & Vision
Rebecca Le Harle “Do You See It”
This was the first solo release from the artist formerly known as Becks from the Fast Crew. It’s a fairly ordinary relationship song (along the lines of Carly Binding) but the video has a lot going on, with proper actors Li Ming Hu and Gareth Reeves playing troubled lovers. It turns out a music video is a perfect medium to convey the devastation of a failed attempt at making an amusing face out of sushi.
Director: Richard Harling
Nga Taonga Sound & Vision
Solaa featuring Hollie Smith “Seek”
“Seek” was commissioned by women’s fashion retailer Max for their 21st birthday celebrations. That also explains why the music video has such a lush, fairytale-like feeling and why everyone in the video is so nicely dressed. It’s like a modern update of the 12 Dancing Princesses mixed with Aotearoa beach funk.
Director: Mark Trethewey
Solstate “Resist”
“Resist” has a similar vibe to General Electric-era Shihad, but the video doesn’t share the create visuals that the ‘Had usually go for. It’s just Solstate in a grungy looking space, shot in a washed-out colour palette. “Resist” is like a pop song in disguise, but the video seems intent on disguising it further.
Director: Briar March
Nga Taonga Sound & Vision