DANIKA SMITH REVEALS STUNNING BEACHSIDE TIMELAPSE VIDEO FOR MELODIC NEW SINGLE ‘SWEET MELLOW D’
Soul-skewed indie folk artist Danika Smith recently revealed her gorgeous new single ‘Sweet Mellow D’ and is delighted to now share the song’s stunning video accompaniment. Filmed during the short relief between Melbourne’s strict lockdowns earlier in the year, the ‘Sweet Mellow D’ video whisks the listener deeper into the honey stick melodies of Danika’s evocative siren-like songwriting; its multilayered ocean waves and rolling clouds passing over the viewer as her delicate refrains do the listener.
“The film clip was an adventurous and experimental collaboration between myself and Joli.Vision. We had a minimal budget and timeframe to get thinking and filming before covid lockdown 2.0 hit Melbourne. The concept is simple; it takes my familiar ‘loungeroom’ and places it in the most ruggedly beautiful natural location we could find. We humans are at home in nature, it’s where we come from and it was very nice to return to it to make this clip, especially considering we’ve been housebound since March. Joli.Vision’s style of film amplified the ephemeral essence of the environment and it was a fitting space in which to share a piece of my mind”
– Danika Smith
“The intention for Sweet Mellow D was to capture Danika’s music bringing her home. Exploring the vulnerable and beautiful uncertainty when hearing Danika play, as well as incorporating concepts of superposition; multiple possibilities existing and collapsing, by blending many moments filmed from a single perspective. I wanted to maximise nature as a set piece; changing of tides, sun path, clouds and fluctuations of natural light to reflect the mood in the melody. After finding the right spot combining mountains, water and sky; Danika, Fela and I spent over 12 hours on this beach with ample snacks and introspective conversation fueling us. It was a real test for both director and subject, which wouldn’t have been achievable without Danika’s open mind and patience in realising the vision” – Joli.Vision, Director
Danika Smith is a true staple of Melbourne’s indie music scene, having performed backing vocals at large festival stages including Folk Rhythm & Life, Womadelaide, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Party in the Paddock, NYE on the Hill, Happy Wanderer, Strawberry Fields and more, as well as recording tracks with 30/70, TomGirl and Allysha Joy and touring nationally. As a solo artist, Danika has been booked to play Strawberry Fields and Brunswick Music Festival, and earlier this year graced the PBS FM Studios for their cherished Drive Live series.
Danika’s debut album is set to be released in early 2021 and brings together a cohesive and cathartic body of work, carefully curated over the past six years since moving to Melbourne. About her upcoming LP and intentions, Danika explains: “This album I have in my heart, is a cathartic journey of complex emotions as a young woman navigating mental health, sexual trauma and the journey of self-empowerment. My music has been my therapy and I want other people out there who experience the universal themes I explore, to have the whole cake and eat it too”.
Stay tuned.
‘Sweet Mellow D’ is out now via Ditto and a limited run of 45s are available via Northside Records and Danika’s Bandcamp.
