Lights, Camera, Action!...Making Music Videos

Hopefully if you’re tuning in you would have already seen (perhaps subscribed, even shared and liked) my music videos. Although, if you haven’t as yet, of course you can still do so, just head on over to my Youtube Channel.

So, I’ve spoken a little about how much fun I’ve had making music videos for my original tracks with my fabulous team at #FastbreakFilms, but today I really wanted to share with you a little more about that creative process, what goes on behind the camera, and what’s involved in getting a concept to a completed music video.

I have spoken a little more specifically about the making of my first music video and song release for #ThisWorld – although today I thought I would take you through the making of #Catch22 and #YouNeverDidntKnow AND where we’re at with conceptually piecing together my next music video and song release for….drumroll….Hooked Up On You!

Catch 22 was my very first experience in front of a camera for a music video shoot, but Kylie and Rody, the creative geniuses behind Fastbreak Films, have really helped guide me through the process.

We shot the music video quite simply; for one, because we were still amidst COVID restrictions, but secondly, because that’s also how we envisioned the tone and feel of the song as being quite raw, reflective, and wanting the words and emotion to carry it more than anything. The beautiful setting of the beach in the later afternoon and some of the warmer sunset shots (emphasised with a lovely golden reflector), in combination with the wind through my hair, and waves of the ocean moving back and forth, were interlaced with me singing the song at my piano. The warm coloured gel filters helped to mirror the two scenes, but also embedded that idea of being in this constant, reflective state about my Catch 22 situation, wherever I went.

Aside from wind blowing my hair in all directions, and at one point, our reflector and papers flying a mile down the beach…and my lips matching my purple dress as the sun went down – it was such a fun shoot and welcoming introduction to feeling more comfortable in front of a camera.

You Never Didn't Know was also inspired by us brainstorming around something simple we could do amidst COVID, but also to mix it up and play with some cool gadgets and transitions. We all spent a bit of time searching YouTube for inspiration of simple approaches that other artists have executed really well – we took notions such as Selena Gomez’s LoseYoutoLoveMe, which was just her singing to camera with interlacing transitions, Adam Levine’s Memories which again was just Adam singing directly to camera but with one shot of a camera panning out – but it is such a great display of a powerful song where the emotion is really carried by the simplicity of the video. We’ve seen a mirror used a few times, such as Hayley Steinfeld’s NoMoreILoveYous and Julia Michael’s Heaven – and aside from the abstract, and interesting angles and reflections it can create, we also thought the concept of the mirror was quite fitting to tie in this idea of reflecting back on the past and what had helped shape who I am and where I was in the moment of coming to write and perform the song.

We decided to combine all of these elements with some more vibrant pinks and blues - for one, because we wanted to do something different and just play with some cool colours that would really pop, but also, because although the song is reflective of a relationship that didn’t work out, it’s again about me rediscovering myself through that process and the positive, tough lessons that need to be learnt and that actually make us stronger. So the original concept of black and white wasn't going to work in that sense, whereas pink and blue felt as though they were referencing getting out of that dreary space and finding the light, colour, and focusing on more exciting, positive things in my life again and moving forward.

So, what’s next on the horizon? Well, I’m so super excited to get into my next music video for Hooked Up On You – I’m very proud of this one because it is a little more cute and jazzy and very different to anything I’ve released thus far. I’ve again welcomed back my Dad, Frank Falleti, on the drums and he’s done a fabulous job! I’ve also collaborated with the talented Alex Compton on sax. The whole thing combined makes the track feel quite dreamy, romantic and soulful, and I seriously can’t wait for you guys to hear it!

This will also be our biggest undertaking for a music video shoot – as some of you may know, I also dance a style of Latin dance called #Zouk, which is a very flowy, partner style originating from the Lambada – and very fitting for the feel of the track. I searched high and low for a venue that had the right look and feel, and wasn’t going to cost me an arm and leg for hire; everything from function centres, to halls, to beautiful rooftop bars, but there was always some element missing. I only recently had a bit of an ‘aha’ moment and remembered my lovely friends who have a stunning home and view at the foot of the Adelaide Hills, who have very generously allowed us to use their beautiful home for the shoot. We’ve taken inspiration from a few different ideas, but agreed it would be lovely to shoot both in the afternoon and at night with the sparkling city lights in the background to really elevate that dreamy kind of state and feel.

The song is about the idea of being content and comfortable on your own, but someone coming along, feelings brewing, but then conversely, being scared of giving something a go in case things don’t work out, and past hurts getting in the way of letting someone new in. So going between the day/night shots and costume changes we really want to emphasise the idea of what’s happening in reality, but the night/dreamy shots eluding to an idea of what could be and the dreamy, butterfly feels you initially get when you have the hots for someone, or when you first get to know someone and kinda like what you see.

I don’t want to give too much away though, so guess you’ll just have to wait and see what we have in store for you – so subscribe, stay tuned, and get excited!

I really hope this has given you a little further insight into what goes on behind the scenes of making our music videos. We love producing them and if you love what you see, be sure to share them and give us a thumbs up! There’s plenty more still to come and we can’t wait to share them with you!

In the meantime, take care and I look forward to seeing you guys back here real soon!