Adelaide emo act Wolf & Chain are steadily making a name for themselves as ones to watch in the local alt-rock space. The band have recently released the new single “Not Giving Up”, exploring lycanthropy as a metaphor in their first offering of the year and third single since their 2021 sophomore EP Amor Mortal. It’s a nostalgic, upbeat singalong drawing influence from 2000s icons like My Chemical Romance and Panic! At the Disco about persevering through dark times.
To celebrate the release and its accompanying video, we asked vocalist Jack Cumes and guitarist Harry Charles-Britton to share some of their favourite music videos with us.
Jack: The Smashing Pumpkins – “Stand Inside Your Love”
I really love this video so much. It has such a distinct vibe and tone. I love all the framing and silhouettes. It has so much depth and is so visually interesting for a video that is entirely black and white – I get “Metropolis” vibes from it. I love everything that is done with the shadows and costuming, not to mention it is such a beautiful song. I feel it is truly a unique and special video.
Harry: a-ha – “Take on Me”
One of my favourite memories was visiting the Australian Centre for the Moving Image when they had an exhibit on music videos, which featured “Take on Me”. Not much can be said that hasn’t already about this vid. It’s just an incredibly creative and eye-catching video with the use of rotoscoping, that is still as fun to watch today as I’m sure it was back when it came out.
Jack: The Cure – “Lullaby”
I’m a huge fan of horror movies and The Cure, so this was an obvious choice for me. This video has such a moody and haunting aesthetic, it really compliments the song and Robert Smith’s panicked, whispery vocals so well. The lighting and the makeup are great, too. I really love this song a lot, so this is one I keep coming back to.
Jack: The Smashing Pumpkins – “Tonight, Tonight”
I couldn’t resist putting a second Smashing Pumpkins video on here. I’m just such a huge fan of what they do aesthetically. Each video is so distinct and they have so many unique eras. I love how stylistic this video is; there are so many great costumes and props, it does such a good job of drawing you into this world that they’ve built.
Jack: Oliver Tree – “Hurt”
I chose this video because I love how over the top, whacky and ‘comic booky’ it is. It’s so much fun and really matches the energy of the song. I’m a big fan of characters and I think Oliver Tree does this so well, and this comes across visually.
Jack: Lil Uzi Vert – “XO Tour Llif3”
I love the vibe of this video – the visuals are super cool. It gives me similar vibes to The Cure’s “Lullaby”, lots of haunting imagery and moody lighting. I really love the purple sky in this video, it has a really surreal and ominous feeling to it – I think it really compliments the song. I think the colours/lighting and the visuals mix together so well and it keeps me coming back to this video.
With such a clear passion for these clips, we also asked Jack about his relationship with music videos to possibly get some insight into the future of Wolf & Chain.
What’s the first music video you remember seeing?
The first music video I ever remember seeing and leaving an impression on me would be Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. I remember being a kid when I saw it and it really freaked me out. It also got me thinking about how a music video can essentially be its own little movie. I really liked seeing other artists do that with their videos and take that medium to the next level.
In your opinion, what makes a great visual for a song?
For me, it’s anything that can accurately translate the emotion or purpose of the song – whether it’s a large set with lights and effects, or a collection of home footage. I think both ends of the spectrum can serve its purpose well, which is why I’ve always been fascinated with visuals. There is so much depth to be explored when extending what you wrote to a visual form.
If you could shoot a clip anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If I could shoot a clip anywhere in the world, I would have to choose New York. I’ve always wanted to film something that looks like it could be set in Gotham City or The Crow. I love the scale of everything and how dramatic it is, especially at night. There are so many lights and tall buildings creating heaps of dramatic shadow, as well as this mismatch of old meets new architecture. There are just so many cool nooks and crannies to be explored, I think we could really make something special there.
Wolf & Chain are currently on tour for AM//PM Emo Night with Tapestry, having played Sydney in March and stopping at Brisbane and Melbourne this month.
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