The Artist Explains: ROE - 'Down Days'
ROE talks us through the intimate visuals for her moving single, ‘Down Days’ which tackles the stigma of mental health.
Where was the video for 'Down Days' filmed and why did you choose to include home video footage?
We filmed it in my studio and out the back roads of Derry. The home video footage was a massive part of this music video because this song was a really personal one for me. I wanted the audience to know a little more about who I was growing up.
How does the video connect with the song?
The video portrays how everyone goes through life taking the good days with the bad ones. ‘Down Days’ is about realising that we’re all human, we all have really bad days and that it’s okay to have them.
Do you have any behind the scenes stories you could share with us?
Going through the old home video footage was insane for me because it’s the first time that I’d seen any of it. It was a really lovely time going through it with my mum and dad, seeing my brothers so young and everything. It’s kinda crazy watching it and realising that the little girl is actually me.
Could you tell us about the ideas/ themes/ imagery used?
Sean Mullan was an amazing director and captured the feeling that I wanted for this video. He took a lot of the old footage and shot some new footage on the same camcorder which was a really cool idea. My family and the people around me that I see as family were all in it because I wanted the feeling of knowing that there are always people there to talk to even when you feel like you can’t.
What do you hope people take away from watching the video?
I hope that by watching this video people realise that they are not alone in the world with how they are feeling. I want people to know that it’s okay to have days where you don’t want to speak at all, it’s okay to have days where you need to speak about everything and most importantly that it’s okay not to feel okay and to show that instead of hiding. There are people around you who love you and who want to help, and it’s okay to need it sometimes.
Interview feature by Karla Harris