The Video Explained: MAGUIRE - 'Melt'
British multi-instrumentalist and singer MAGUIRE and director Bonnie Wright talk to us about the creative process behind the enchanting music video for ‘Melt,’ the third single taken from MAGUIRE’s forthcoming EP ‘Fantaisies’.
Where was the video for 'Melt' filmed?
We filmed it in East London. We wanted to root it in our hometown as the song is about memory, letting go of the past, and the streets around the city hold a lot of significance in our lives. The London sky line is also a physical representation of this merging of time with historic and modern buildings co-existing side by side – a theme we further explored through the use of mixed medium, using super 8 film in conjunction with anamorphic footage.
How does the video connect with the song?
The movement was choreographed to emulate the sensation of melting; that feeling when you surrender and drop into the subconscious. At first the two bodies resist surrendering – particularly Maguire – but it's Xavia who guides her to becoming more fluid. The choreography becomes the literal representation of the lyrics. Dance felt like the best medium to portray the themes of the song in a physical space, especially as the song is also about how we relate to the physical world and the field of consciousness before our eyes.
Do you have any behind the scenes stories you could share with us?
Nothing particularly juicy went down I’m afraid. It was filmed the week before Christmas so was extremely cold, so there was a lot of bundling up in between takes. We were all friends or past collaborators on set though so it was a really warm atmosphere which made it fun; even when fighting arctic temperatures in a silk dress.
Can you tell us about the ideas/themes/imagery used?
We were interested in how the interaction of two bodies presents conflict and duality. Often we have to face our own internal struggles before we are able to truly let go, to melt. Visually also Bonnie was particularly interested in the negative space between bodies, not just the bodies themselves – the crack between worlds where the light gets in.
Is there a message the video is trying to convey?
Just like the song the video aims to transport you on a dreamlike journey to a realm beyond this tangible world we see before us. Giving in and surrendering into oneness is the only way to break through the barriers we create for ourselves.
Interview by Karla Harris