Is that the pier from The Futurist? Yeah! It’s totally the same pier from Something For Kate‘s video for The Futurist!* Automatically I’m already loving this new clip from fellow Melbournites Halcyon Drive. Yet as I continue watching the video for their new single Apart I find myself forgetting about my undying love for SFK, which is a pretty big deal. Raw, emotive and touching, the film clip for Apart is a great way to introduce yourself to Halcyon Drive, and we’re premiering it here on Happy!
Halcyon Drive’s tender melodies, engaging musicianship and melancholy soaked vocals are aptly reflected in the engrossing video for Apart.
Before I start frothing with fanboy fever let’s take a step back and have a look at Halcyon Drive. For a band that create such textured, engaging music it’s a pleasant surprise to learn they are just two dudes. Michael and Max have been playing together since 2012 and it’s clear they haven’t been dicking around since coming together. After releasing two singles and steadily developing their craft the boys have now released their debut EP Cruel Kids. The EP boasts Halcyon Drive’s tender melodies, tenacious percussion and curious samples.
The closing track Apart is the recent single and it’s definitely an emotional doozey. Well, all music is emotional in some respect. Maybe I’m just a big old softie when it comes to heartbreak. If there was one word I’d use to describe this song it’d be ‘lament’. It’s more than appropriate as Michael whispers the opening line “I need you like the ocean needs the blue”. Cue the feels. His voice softly croons, regret and yearning overflowing from it. The melancholy keys follows suit, amply propped up by the sparse percussion which adds a sense of drama to the track. As the guitars kick in the door and make a violent entrance things become more sinister, the hopelessness in losing someone you love really snares the listener before settling back to the crooning melancholy.
The video was directed, edited and produced by Gabriella Cigana, and she did a damn fine job of capturing the essence of Apart in a simple and subtle way. With the vast, lonely ocean as backdrop Michael sings the song as the video intercuts with nostalgic footage of the woman he yearns for. The use of hand held POV shots for these shots effectively place the audience within the narrative and therefore elevates the sense of loss and sadness the song conveys. As we reach the crescendo we have a our first shot of the female with her back to light and wrapped in shadow. A little on the nose perhaps, but it works nonetheless.
If you like what you see and you happen to be in Melbourne on Saturday January 31 then be good boys and girls and head on over to the Ding Dong Lounge for the Cruel Kids EP launch. Halcyon Drive will be bringing along Albert Salt and Pretty City which should make for a pretty swell show! Get your tickets here.
*Ed. Shay you are banned from using exclamation marks for 14 days. That’s how we roll at Happy come work with us!
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