The Band Explains: The Good Minus - 'Mechanical Shark'
Art rockers The Good Minus talk to us about all things , ‘Mechanical Shark’, which is sonically and visually concerned with the lack of value attached to the arts and music in the education system, and society.
Where was the video for ‘Mechanical Shark' filmed?
In a small town about two hours out of Melbourne called Talbot. It was where Stu, our drummer grew up. The ruin is an old house that was built in the late 1800s and burnt down in the 1980s. We chose the location because we wanted something visually stunning that fitted with the ideas behind the music.
How does the video connect with the song?
We wanted to capture the main theme of the song which is that art and music is often not valued by society/the education system. By destroying records and artworks we are showing how “music will come in last”. Sam Rogers directed and edited the video and Jacob Harris was the cinematographer. They very creatively utilised the setting, often on the fly, and did a great job bringing the song to life.
Do you have any behind the scenes stories you could share with us?
Some of the classic records being destroyed may or may not be the real thing. It was a freezing cold day and we were all itching to light the fire and burn them so we could warm up. Also there was an old creepy well behind the house that we nearly fell in during filming.
Can you tell us about the ideas/ themes/ imagery used?
The main idea came about by reflecting on the value of arts and music while working as a music teacher in a high school. There is a hierarchy of importance placed on different subject areas and unfortunately the arts are usually valued less in the school environment, as well as in society. Showing paintings, instruments and albums being destroyed was the way we chose to convey this theme.
What do you hope people take away from watching the video?
Hopefully people watching and listening will interpret the song song in a way that speaks to them. We wanted to convey the fact that artistic creativity is an intrinsic part of being human, and we need to start valuing that as much as anything else. ‘Mechanical Shark’ is the first single from our debut album. The full album will be released on September the 27th.
Interview by Karla Harris