Future soul artist Ngaiire today shares the stunning accompanying visuals for her new single ‘Closer’. Co-written by Japanese Wallpaper and Jack Grace and premiered via triple j, the track is taken from her forthcoming album 3 out Friday 27 August.
The accompanying video was directed by Adam Kiers and creative-directed by Ngaiire – she shares, “When I brought the project to Adam Kiers, I’d already worked on the concept for about 2 months prior, starting first with painting the single cover then extracting the aesthetic from that. I’d presented him with a pretty elaborate story board complete with a full arsenal of costume designs, hair and makeup briefs and as much info as I could throw at him. I essentially wanted to create my own mini cult film with a limited budget which gave everyone on the team multiple heart attacks.”
Ngaiire continues, “The whole story concept revolves around two lovers (Tongan/Australian choreographer Sela Vai and her real life partner Mark Turner) who are a part of a cult who must abstain from any kind of affection, lust, love, sex to uphold age old beliefs. Their cover is blown and they are punished. The cult represents uniformity, culture, religion, ideology with the angular choreography further meant to reflect the militant and sometimes absurd ways in which we choose to move as groups of people. The lovers represent the yearning to live outside of the boxes but unable to because of the perimeters that are there. I am merely a story teller within the story which Adam opted to have me dropped in a bit later as to not be the entire focal point of the story which I think works well especially since I had initially toyed with the idea of not being in it at all. I also serve to represent a choice made to be loud and proud against the backdrop of what society wants to dictate to me what I should act like – which is not a multi-faceted black woman.”
3 was written by Ngaiire and produced in partnership with Jack Grace over the course of the last three years. Made during an incredible time of change, learning and processing, Ngaiire has penned an incredible artist mission statement that dives deep into her identity, heritage, history and the story of creating her third album. Read her powerful artist statement over HERE.
