Papercity’s sinking sensation
Papercity’s debut music video, Plastic, could leave viewers gasping for air, getting that sinking feeling or just needing a good shake off, but the single’s response has been more like a floating sensation.
The music video features Nelson-born singer and lead guitarist, Alex Hargreaves, underwater as if it was the most natural place to be.
The video was shot in Jose Cano’s underwater photography studio which is one of only a few in the world.
Hargreaves said knowing Cano, using his specialised photography studio was an opportunity not to be missed.
But she said shooting submerged in the dark pool for a day had its challenges. ‘‘The first one was sinking. ‘‘People don’t naturally sink, so I had to do a practice day ... getting rid of all the air from my lungs and then sinking. It kind of goes against your instincts because you want to have a full breath of air in your lungs when you go underwater.’’
And just because Hargreaves could learn to sink, didn’t mean her wooden guitar followed suit.
‘‘I got a relative to cut a big piece of really thick metal and screw it to the back of the guitar so it would sink.
‘‘And also, Doc Martins, they always go on about having air in the soles; turns out they actually do, and it makes your feet float.’’
Floating in a blacked out tank, no air in your lungs, and having water in your mouth from miming song lyrics sounds like a bad nightmare but she said it felt ‘‘pretty amazing’’.
‘‘You’re just sort of floating really; it just feels like you’re in space.’’
Papercity is made up of singer and lead guitarist, Hargreaves, who attended Nayland College; bass guitarist Ellery Daines, also from Nelson, and drummer Sam Edmonds from Marlborough.
Hargreaves said the trio all previously knew each other, and by chance, kept the Nelson-based theme by taking on producer Ryan Beehre formerly of the now disbanded group Minuit.
The release of their debut single in January has brought with it markers showing Papercity are going places.
Hargreaves said for the launch of their music video, they played a show in Auckland’s Ding Dong Lounge rock venue.
‘‘It sold out.’’
Following that, One News played it in their closing credits.
‘‘I had lots of friends’ mums texting [me].’’
She said this year, the band planned to release more songs and play more shows; especially with having international talent backing them.
‘‘We’re kind of lucky. I met a cool producer in Auckland who listened to the stuff I was working on with Ryan and [he] hooked us up with a mixer in the UK who’s one of the best mixers in the world.’’
It’s ‘‘Nelson – worldwide’’.