The Artist Explains: Adam French - 'The Only Living Thing'
Singer-songwriter Adam French talks to us about his incredible new track and visuals for ‘The Only Living Thing’, starring actor Charley Palmer Rothwell (Dunkirk, Darkest Hour) who goes about his daily domestic routine with his closest companion; a mannequin doll.
’The Only Thing’ is the second release from Adam French’s upcoming debut album and is an incredibly empowering and beautiful pop song with a swirling indie folk undercurrent, delivering a heartfelt message of love, support and solidarity, kicking back against loneliness.
Speaking on the track, Adam states: "The track is about realisation, that everything you previously had was all that you ever needed and more. Two people sharing the same pain, coming to terms with the fact that they might need to look backwards in order to move forwards. Love is an interesting beast. I've always been fond of videos that tell love stories in interesting ways, but this one's different for so many reasons. I'm sure a lot of people can relate to longing for companionship."
Adam French Explains:
Where was the video for 'The Only Living Thing' filmed?
We shot it in an air BnB house in London, I think the owners were in the process of renovating it, which meant we had all the dodgy carpet and wallpaper you could ever wish for. Worked nicely for the aesthetic of the video.
How does the video connect with the song?
The video tells a love story in a way I've never seen before in a music vid, which is what drew me to the idea initially... on top of that the irony of a song called 'The Only Living Thing' having visuals that heavily feature a very inanimate love interest felt like something we had to do.
Can you share any behind the scenes stories with us?
I mean, besides the obvious constantly being freaked out by the doll being sat in different parts of the house as if she'd moved herself each time... I honestly just enjoyed watching Charley acting, he's a great lad and an incredibly talented actor. Glad he was able to step into this role for us.
Could you tell us about the ideas/ themes/ imagery used?
The whole thing explores loneliness and mental health... Everyone on the face of this earth knows how it feels to long for companionship, or a sense of belonging. These feeling are often harder for those already battling their own demons within.
Is there a message the video is trying to convey?
Appreciate the people who love and care about you, try not to push them away when you're struggling (as hard as that can be) and never settle for feeling alone... because you don't have to.
Interview feature by Karla Harris