PAPERCITY Releases Video For New Single, "Plastic"
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The Kiwi three-piece, fronted by the dynamic Alex Hargreaves, have just released ‘Plastic’- a slice of high-energy pop, with touches of punk and rock.
A rousing youth anthem, which talks to young people who have had struggles, the video for ‘Plastic’ was filmed underwater, with the aim of physically depicting the feeling of sinking and drowning.
“Young people have so much pressure on them these days. There’s also an expectation to be happy and failing to meet that can be super painful. But it’s ok to not feel 100 percent all of the time. The video shows that you can survive under the pressure of the water, and that you can work out how to swim again,” says Hargreaves.
Shot by Daniel Allen, directed by Hargreaves and edited by Josh Edmonds, the making of the video - entirely underwater - wasn’t without its challenges.
“It was a really tough day because we shot it in the middle of winter in Nelson, so it was freezing,” says Hargreaves.
“The tank that we filmed in was massive and was all blacked out, so when you're under the water you can't see anything. The guitar in the video actually had to be weighted so that it would sink. And in order for me to sink I had to expel all of the air in my lungs and then drop into the water”.
“Instinctually I immediately wanted to swim back up to the surface but I had to really push myself to stay down and perform. It's also really hard to swim to the surface fully clothed and in Dr. Martens with no air in your lungs.”
But Hargreaves adds that it was an amazing experience she’ll never forget, “It felt like being in space!”
With Hargreaves on writing, singing and lead guitar duties, Sam Edmonds on drums and Ellery Daines on bass, PAPERCITY has been writing and performing since forming in 2011, and although the three-piece has a handful of soft releases to its name, ‘Plastic’ is the first official single and signals a new chapter in the band’s journey.