After seeing her epic video for ‘Magnetise,’ we had a chat with Essie Holt to find out one of our favourite videos of the year came together and how dancing in fake rain feels.

It’s rare for an artist to come up with such a polished video early on in their career, but that’s exactly what electro-pop queen Essie Holt has done in her latest clip for banger ‘Magnetise.’ The Melbourne-based singer, who has been turning heads since the release of her debut track ‘Underwater’ with her powerful vocals and melancholy lyricism, went all out for her latest release and we’ve got the shots to prove it.

The ‘Magnetise’ video has the gloss of huge production and is equally as slick as the tune itself (which has already amassed over 300K plays on spotify), which is why we thought it’s about time we get to know Essie a little better, and also work out how she and director Josh Harris pulled it all off:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NkRUdWKyU0

What are some of the concepts behind the song/video Magnetise?

I wrote Magnetise after a strange encounter with some old friends and afterwards I realised there was no point holding on to that friendship because we were heading in completely different directions and had really different values. The song is all about letting go of past relationships that are weighing you down. The video shows me reflecting while I’m stuck in traffic and then in the chorus I go into a dream-like state where some of those past relationships are coming back to haunt me.

How did you manage to shoot the video with the whole road blocked off or was that an illusion?

Haha wow imagine the cost and permits for that! Yeah it was an illusion – we filmed it on the rooftop of the Jam Factory in South Yarra in Melbourne and then got a lot of cutaway shots of traffic to piece it all together.

You seem really comfortable in front of the camera, were you nervous with such a big crew all working towards making the video?

I got so nervous when I rocked up to the set because there were 30 people there all ready to work on my video. They were all the kindest humans and so passionate about the song, so that helped a lot. Our director, Josh Harris, was absolutely incredible and made me feel so comfortable. We also had an amazing choreographer who helped with the little bits of movement here and there that I had to do. Made the world of difference cos I’m definitely not the most coordinated gal.

There’s some creepy hands at a point in the video, what’s happening there?

Haha welllllll, in the chorus I go in to this kind of euphoric state, and the idea behind the creepy hands is that they are past relationships coming back to haunt me. That was so fun but also so awkward to film!

I’ve always wanted to dance under one of those artificial rain machines you used. How was that experience?

That was my last shot of the day and it was SO fun but SO, SO cold. The wind really picked up at night and that water was icy! But I loved dancing in the rain, although I kind of envied the girls who were controlling the rain machine and got to drench everyone and stay warm in their raincoats.

You somehow made traffic jams a little less boring. What do you do when you’re stuck in traffic in RL?

I really love driving because it usually means I’m listening to great tunes and singing along. I often get stuck in freeway traffic jams and it’s always super convenient when you have snacks in your bag (which I generally always do). So I guess I just sing, and eat.

What else is coming up this year for you?

I’ve got a bunch of shows coming up in May/June! I’m supporting GLADES on their tour, and also doing an east coast run with Teischa & Muki. I’ve just started recording my debut EP and am having the best fun hanging out in the studio. And I’ll have another single out in the coming months (yay)!