Watch the music video now, exclusively on MILKY! We caught up with the musician to chat about the track, working on the visual, her creative process and so much more!
Image: Bowen Hopper.
Earlier this month, DENNIS unveiled her new single, Stuck In My Ways. Now, the musician is backing it up with a striking visual, premiering right here on MILKY!
Produced and edited by The Edit Suite in collaboration with The Gold Coast Music Awards, as part of the Gold Coast Music Prize awarded to DENNIS, the clip showcases Australia's stunning natural landscape. Through vivid imagery, and the implementation of mirrors, the clip represents a more reflective side, drawing on the introspective lyricism of the track.
We caught up with DENNIS to chat about the track, working on the visual, her creative process and so much more! Watch the visual and read our interview below.
Could you tell us a bit about your background in music and what led you to pursuing a career in music?
I feel like my parents more or less signed me up when they first took me to singing lessons at 10. I knew pretty early on that I wanted to be a performing artist and I just happened to be very fortunate that I could sing. From school I went straight to the Conservatorium of Music and I've been singing and playing shows ever since.
Congratulations on your new single, we’re loving the track! What prompted you to write Stuck In My Ways?
Thanks guys x. Well Stuck In My Ways is about moving in with a partner for the first time. I was just about to move in with my boyfriend in the new year and as you do you start to imagine what that would be like, it's pretty much all you can think about. At least it was for me.
The track fuses nu-disco with indie pop. How did you arrive at the sonic sounds present on this single?
I wrote SIMW with Cam Nacon and got Tom Eggert to bring that track to life in Production. We didn't really have a sound in mind, it's more like when you are in the room you just go with it till you find the sound you feel is right. It's not all the time that this works out but we got pretty lucky with this one.
How involved were you when it came to conceptualising the video clip?
I’m super hands on when it comes to creating the visuals for my music! It’s the best part of being any artist. For Stuck In My Ways I felt like it was a good combination of both parties. The boys at The Edit Suite really focused on the design of the video while I was super on top of styling. When it came to the edit, I was pretty lucky to be in the room. It’s so important to me to be involved as much as I can so I felt really fortunate that The Edit Suite guys were happy for me to be involved.
What was your most memorable moment on set during filming?
Definitely would have to be trying to get those butterflies on camera. There were so many of them flying around when we were shooting and trying to film me singing and get them flying around in the background was a lot harder than we thought.. I think we ended up getting one shot so mission accomplished!
How important are the visuals to you when it comes to portraying the stories and themes present on the songs?
Personally, super important! It gives your audience the chance to visually understand what you were singing about!
Could you tell us a bit about your creative process when writing and recording?
Writing music can definitely be like 1, 2, 3 or it's more a vibe or it can be like thinking out loud about something you feel so strongly about. For me I work best when I write with others and it usually works out being a combination of vibe and thinking out loud. But I also find myself writing when I am working my dreaded day job and I know I can't work on music.
Recording is the real fun part, the hard work is done and it's time to get super creative. I always love to be in the room with the producer, I'm kinda like that backseat driver that sometimes you can't stand but also your GPS stopped working and turns out I'm the only one who knows how to get to the destination (with the help of the driver of course).
Who or what inspires you and how does that feed into your creative sphere?
Currently it has to be something I'm dealing with in my life. I've never wanted to write about my own life as it feels like blasting my diary to the world but It's the next phase of DENNIS. music and I'm super excited to let my writing mind do its thing.
If Stuck In My Ways was a piece of pre-exisiting visual art (sculpture, painting, photograph etc - anything but the songs own visuals), what piece would it be and why?
I think it would have to be the YIN and YANG symbol, two people from different worlds but fit so well together when you have a little faith.
I can see this track fitting in perfectly with a variety of movies and TV shows, what movie or TV show could you see Stuck In My Ways featuring on? Or would love to see featured on?
Honestly I'm not sure, like you said it could be in anything. Not because I think it would fit soooo well but it would be super cool to see it placed in Home and Away. My brothers and I were die hard fans when we were younger and my Dad thought I was studying to be an actress when I was at the Conservatorium. So his dreams of me being in Home and Away could be short lived if SIMW got placed in an episode.
What’s one line from Stuck I My Ways that you feel describes the track perfectly and why?
“You got up in my heart and then my head it followed. What would you say if I now called you my home.” - when we make decisions about looove it feels like your heart and your head are always fighting each other, so it's pretty rare (especially for me) for my heart and head to be on the same page.
Australia has a diverse and vibrant music scene, who are some of your favourite Aussie acts and why?
WAFIA is super fun and some of her live shows are my dream gig. Middle Kids make music that is special and really makes you deal with your own crap and face your fears. Confidence Man are my alter ego.
Are you working on any new music? What can we expect from you next? Will we be seeing an album or EP, and if so what can listeners expect from it?
Yes, always working on new music! It's one of my favorite things to do (lucky right). Not sure what body of work will be next, you will just have to give me a follow to find out what’s next.
With restrictions easing and borders having opened, will we be seeing you hit the road with national dates anytime soon? Or any live show plans?
I have a few shows coming up, some still to be announced so I can't say too much. I'm actually heading home to Yeppoon in a couple of months to play the SoCal Festival so I'm really excited for August 28th to roll around.
RAPID FIRE
Biggest influences?
Shania Twain, Stieve Nicks, Patsy Cline, Miley Cyrus, Kimbra
Dream collaboration?
Alice Ivey, Flume, Confidence Man, Miley Cyrus
Album that has had the most impact on you?
Innocent Eyes - Delta Goodrem, Heard in a Past Life - Maggie Rodgers, Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
How do you define your musical style in 3 words?
Upbeat, high energy, familiar (but you can't put a finger on who or why)
Best song of 2021 so far?
Questions - Middle Kids
If you could create the soundtrack for any film, which one would it be?
Devil wears Prada
Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus?
Miley Cyrus (I didn't even see this question before answering the ones above)
Album you would listen to on repeat on a road trip?
Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
Best concert you have been to?
Jungle Giants at The Northern in Byron Bay
First concert you went to?
Fleetwood Mac at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre
First album you ever bought?
I never did, first one I got as a present was Delta Goodrem Innocent Eyes
If you were a Spice Girl, what would your spice nickname be?
Scaredy-cat Spice
Guilty music pleasure?
A really good bass line eg. Tame Impala
If you could support any artist on tour, who would it be?
WAFIA
An artist you think has had the most influence on the music industry.
Billie Eilish
What advice would your current self, give your future self, for a year from now?
It's hard to please people all the time, not everyone is going to like you as that's okay. Your happiness is important too, so dont say yes unless it's a HELL YES!
The moment you knew you wanted to be a musician?
I think it would have clicked when I walked on stage for the first time at a school talent quest. It's the addictive feeling of wanting to go back on stage as soon as it's over. It's such a rush and no matter how much time I spend preparing myself to get up there and imagining what it's going to be like it will never be able to live up to that high of walking on stage and coming off after. It's like nothing I have ever experienced before and it's totally why I got hooked on being a musician.