Sydney-based singer-songwriter Imogen Grist aka Babitha released her latest single ‘Only Fair’ earlier this month. The lead single from Babitha’s forthcoming debut album, Brighter Side of Blue, is a country-tinged tale of a “twisted love triangle between a fish, a fisherman and a cormoran.” Grist’s smoky vocals are foregrounded by ethereal harmonies and some twangy pedal steel guitar, feeling at once nostalgic and brimming with life.
Music Feeds is premiering the song’s accompanying music video, directed by Grist and shot on the farm where she grew up, on Wiradjuri country, as a way of honouring her late father, a “keen fisherman who inspired many aspects of the song.” Set against this rural backdrop, Grist flees from a mysterious assailant.
Babitha – ‘Only Fair’
“At first I was hesitant to direct my own music video as I didn’t want to cross-pollinate my two different creative outlets, but I’m so stoked with the end result and feel like the dynamic between my music and visual aesthetic works really well,” Grist told Music Feeds.
“It was my first time shooting on film, which was super scary because it’s so expensive and there’s no way of checking what you’ve shot. But I think that pressure helped everyone snap into character and just go for it,” said Grist. “So much trust and collaborative energy went into this shoot, and I really enjoyed the process of setting up each shot, trying to nail it in one take, then waiting in anticipation for the scans to come back.”
Brighter Side of Blue is set to arrive on Friday, 20th January 2023 via Spunk! Records. The album was recorded at Stranded Studios in Bellambi with Bowen Shakallis and Cody Munro Moore behind the controls and contributions from guitarist Alexi Grivas, Body Type‘s Cecil Coleman on drums and Russell Fitzgibbon (aka Skeleten) on bass.
Brighter Side of Blue follows Babitha’s debut EP, Through the Light, which arrived last year after being previewed with singles ‘Get Away’ and ‘The Clown’. Pre-orders are available here.
Further Reading
The Best of Country Music at BIGSOUND 2022
Sydney Artist Skeleten: ‘It’s Always Production And Vibe And Feeling First’
Cool Sounds’ Dainis Lacey: “I’m Flexing My Musicianship More”
