Auckland, New Zealand natives, Openside, have shared the music video for their new single "No Going Back". Yesterday, Alternative Press Magazine had the exclusive first look. The track is the first single off their upcoming EP, which will be out later this year. Check out the video HERE!
"We wanted [the song] to feel both mournful and triumphant, the way that you do when you're closing one chapter of your life and starting another, so we were inspired by lots of epic 80s and 90s power ballads," lead singer Possum said.
We spoke with video director Shae Sterling about creating a visual story that expressed the song's main theme but twisted it into a tale of being haunted by the memories of that past relationship," they continued. "The video is a nod to suburban teen films like Donnie Darko and Heathers and features the deer mask from Goodnight Nurse's 'Keep Me On Your Side' album art, which was a super influential album for all of us in our pop-punk youth."
New Zealand emo-pop quartet Openside formed three years ago in Auckland. The group came together when then teenagers PJ, George and Harry joined with emo force of nature Possum at a place that was actually called School of Rock. The group released their debut EP Push Backin 2016 and single "I Feel Nothing" in 2017.
They've played alongside a number of high profile acts, including Twenty-One Pilots, Fall Out Boy, and Ellie Goulding, and have developed a strong local following by connecting to the infectious energy and charismatic delivery of em- drenched messages of empowerment for kids of all persuasions driven through their songs. Openside has been writing and recording in the tiny confines of Golden Age studio with producer Josh Fountain. Josh is a member of cult New Zealand indie groove act Leisure and Golden Age is a unique space made legendary as the studio where fellow New Zealand artist Lorde recorded Pure Heroine.
"No Going Back" is just a small taste of what's to come from Openside, who are gearing up for an epic 2018.
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