As part of the Adelaide Fringe, 10 local artists/bands were paired up with filmmakers to make a music video in just 10 days. We caught up with them to talk about the project and find out more about their sound.

For the Adelaide Fringe, Channel 44 and US filmmaker Norwood Cheek played matchmaker, partnering up filmmakers with local bands or musicians and putting them to the test: making a music video in only 10 days.

The videos were screened last week to a sold-out Metro Hotel and will be aired on Channel 44. In covering the 10×10 project, CityMag came across some familiar names from our Best New Music column and some newbies to add to our playlists.

Looking back on the 10×10 challenge, we checked in with the artists to get to know them better as they reflected on the challenge.

Aliesysha

Aliesysha is a singer-songwriter living on Kaurna land, who describes herself as singing the songs of sirens.

CM: For the 10×10 project, you made a music video for your track “PALATABLE”. If you had only three words to describe the video, what would they be?
Bloody, mysterious, thrilling.

CM: What was your favourite memory from the 10×10 process?
The first meeting with [filmmakers] Rodrigo Arias and Clare Elvia was incredible. I walked through the song’s meaning and its purpose. We then decided on ideas to use in the video. I felt very heard and seen. I knew they both understood what the song meant to me and what I wanted it to become. Working with the actor Sean Wright was another great memory. He was very patient and fully on board with our wild shoot.

CM: What was your favourite part about working with Rodrigo and Clare?
I felt like no idea was too ambitious or too wild. I knew they completely understood the vision I had for my song. My favourite part was when I was covered in blood and they both were encouraging me so I would give the best performance.

CM: Would you recommend other musicians participate in a challenge like 10×10 in the future?
I would 1000 per cent recommend other musicians participate in the 10 x 10 sessions. This is an incredible opportunity to see your musical ideas and vision form into visual media. It’s wonderful being a part of that process.

CM: Is there anything else about you or your music you think CityMag readers should know? 
I have always seen my music in visual aspects and dreamt of making a video. I am so thrilled and honoured that I got to do that with the 10×10 sessions help. I have more music coming in future so stay tuned to see what happens next!

Connect with Alieysha on Instagram or listen to her on Spotify.

Chloe Sea

Chloe Sea is a 17-year-old singer-songwriter from the Barossa, with three singles out now and big plans to release more music soon.

CM: You made a music video for your debut single “Movie Scene” for the 10×10 project. If you had to describe the video you made in only three words, what would they be?
Whimsical, fun, warm.

CM: You made your music video with Ned McDermottroe. What was your favourite part about working with him?
I loved hearing his ideas and thoughts about my song and how we could make the music video represent the aesthetic of what I had already created. He made the time to really listen to me and my song. It was so great to collaborate, and I’m super happy with the result and can’t wait to release it out into the world.

CM: What was your favourite memory from the 10×10 process?
The filming process for sure. We mostly filmed in the Mount Crawford forest and it was just beautiful! The filming process was exciting but also a bit scary. As a solo artist, I did feel a little bit self-conscious and vulnerable. But as soon as I met Ned I felt like he really understood my vibe and made me feel comfortable throughout the process.

CM: Would you recommend that other musicians participate in a challenge like 10×10 in the future?
100 per cent yes! It was so great to meet other artists and creatives and see what everyone is doing. It’s such a cool idea to pair up emerging artists with emerging filmmakers. It was a wonderful learning experience just going through the process and building confidence with this sort of thing.

Connect with Chloe Sea on Instagram and discover her tracks on YouTube. Watch the music video for Movie Scene. 

Church Moms

Church Moms are an electro queercore band based on Kaurna Meyunna Yerta. Their music covers themes of heartbreak and anti-capitalism. 

CM: If you had to describe the video you made for “Leather” in only three words, what would they be?
Angsty, sparkly, celebration. 

CM: What was your favourite memory from the 10×10 process?
Working with new friends to produce something we’re all proud of.

CM: Would you recommend that other musicians participate in a challenge like 10×10 in the future?
Absolutely! It works a creative muscle you sometimes don’t get to use.

CM: What was your favourite part about working with your filmmaker?
They came into the process with a clear vision that matched incredibly well with ours. Everyone was so willing to give anything a go, and we’ve made some great memories and a great video.

Connect with Church Moms on Instagram, and check out their latest EP on Spotify or via their website.

Church Moms are playing at Murder City Roller Derby’s Big Gay Bout on March 9 with tickets available through the Adelaide Fringe website. 

Dandy Buzzkills

Dandy Buzzkills are a band with a retro flavour who say their music is “much like Taylor Swift but not at all”.

CM: If you had to describe the video you made in only three words, what would they be?
Holy, like a Rectory.

CM: What is your favourite memory from the 10×10 process?
Seeing the final product.

CM: What was your favourite part about working with your filmmaker?
Coming together and fleshing out our idea.

Connect with Dandy Buzzkills on Instagram or listen to their music on Spotify.

Exit Plan

Exit Plan is an alternative rock band from Murray Bridge.

CM: For the Channel 44 10×10 Music Video Challenge you produced a music video for your track “All Gone”. If you had to describe the video in only three words, what would they be?
Pretty good, man.

CM: What was your favourite memory from the 10×10 process?
Getting the chance to make a music video and experience that side of the music industry.

CM: Would you recommend that other musicians participate in a challenge like 10×10 in the future?
Yes, absolutely. It was awesome.

CM: You worked with local filmmaker James Adams for the clip, what was your favourite part about working with him?
James was super easy to work with and a really nice bloke.

 CM: Is there anything else about you and your music that you think CityMag readers need to know?
We have a whole EP out on Spotify called “Impressions of You and I” and they should listen to it.

Connect with Exit Plan on Instagram and listen to their tunes on Spotify.

Hepé Mateh

Hepé Mateh are psych funkers from Adelaide.

CM: For the Channel 44 10×10 Music Video Challenge you produced a music video for a new track, “Funky Drummer”. If you had to describe the video in only three words, what would they be?
We don’t forget. Because it’s nostalgic and that ties in with the meaning of the song too. The Funky Drummer is Clyde Stubblefield, the drummer of James Brown’s band and he got forgotten. He got paid 25 bucks for a session and was the most sampled drummer of all time.

CM: Your music video was made with local filmmaker Jose Rafael “Maui” Mauricio. What was your favourite part about working together?
When you’re thinking about art, it can be a really touchy and hard thing for an artist to collaborate so heavily with somebody else. If it doesn’t represent them, it can be really hard and awkward. So we got sent a list of all the filmmakers a bit before the challenge started and I thought if I look through the people, we can maybe see who might connect with us and stylistically who we might gel with. Maui was the first person I clicked on and I was like, “I don’t have to look at anyone else”. I was so impressed with him, he was so professional and we would love to work together again in a paid capacity.

CM: Would you recommend that other musicians participate in a challenge like 10×10 in the future?
Absolutely. It can be really hard for bands getting a leg up and visual content is so important because people are always on their phones so if they see something capturing, their band might get a bit more noticed or they might listen to the song a little longer.

“Funky Drummer” will be released later in the year. Connect with Hepé Mateh on Instagram and Spotify.

Lucas Day

Lucas is a singer-songwriter from Adelaide who plays guitar and foot drums.

CM: If you had to describe your music video in only three words, what would they be?
Energetic, punchy, fun.

CM: What was your favourite memory from shooting during the 10×10 music video challenge?
Every time the clapperboard would come out for a take I knew I wasn’t just shooting iPhone videos in my bedroom anymore, this was a full-blown production. It was such a little thing, but it reminded me how far I’ve come and how grateful I was to be shooting my first music video!

CM: You worked with the filmmaking collective Iris Wide Shut, what was your favourite part about working with them?
Working with Iris Wide Shut was incredible, with just the right balance between unbounded creativity and real-world practicality. Ripley, Mel and Thor took my original idea and ran with it, brainstorming and fleshing it out, teaching me a few filmmaking lessons along the way too!

CM: Would you recommend that other musicians participate in a challenge like 10×10 in the future?
Absolutely, it’s a fantastic way to meet new local artists and filmmakers. There was a real sense of community at the premiere and apart from all the new friends, you actually have a film clip at the end of the process!

CM: When can we expect to see your music video and stream the song?
The music video is for an unreleased song called ‘Deja Vu’. It’s a punchy song about falling in love all over again and it’s set to come out in May so keep an ear out!

Connect with Lucas on Instagram and stream his music on Spotify.

Newgate Crowd

Newgate Crowd are an indie rock trio that describes their sound as having beefy riffs, heavy drums and auditory charisma.

CM: You made a music video for the track “Remote” as part of the 10×10 project. If you were to describe the music video you produced in three words, what would they be?
Incredible acting potential? Grammy Award hopeful?

CM: What was your favourite memory from shooting during the 10×10 music video challenge?
Laughs, the athleticism when performing our own stunt work (despite a car bonnet casualty). And of course, coming together for the screening to enjoy the project’s success with fellow creatives.

CM: Would you recommend that other musicians participate in a challenge like 10×10 in the future?
Without hesitation. It’s fun and runs in the spirit of the Fringe, which is an excellent event to be a part of. Nothing to lose, much to gain, including a music video and new connections.

CM: You made this music video with Chase Rodgers, what was it like working with him?
Teaming with up-and-coming filmmaker, Chase Rodgers, was an ideal fit for us. He has a great creative eye and is very easy to work with. We are happy to achieve what we did in the time frame available and in line with the 10×10 challenge objective. Our geography (we are Barossa-based) did impact us – and that kind of added to the challenge, which Chase took in his stride.

CM: Is there anything else about you and your music that you think CityMag readers need to know?

We are proud to be a part of the Adelaide music scene. From our experience, there is good-spirited support amongst the artists and audience – it’s a feeling of being part of a greater movement here in Adelaide, which is after all,  the UNESCO City of Music!

Connect with Newgate Crowd via their website and Instagram.

Parvyn

Parvyn is a Punjabi-Australian singer and dancer whose debut solo record ‘Sa’ was nominated for an ARIA in the ‘Best World Music’ category in 2022.

CM: Tell us about yourself and why you got involved with 10×10.
I have performed at festivals all over the world and have recently moved back to Adelaide where I was born. I have been making video clips for my music for a very long time starting in 2012 with my band The Bombay Royale’s first clip “You, Me, Bullets, Love”. I love making music videos and see it as a very important extension of my music. This process was very different for me and I really had to let go and trust my filmmakers to make something wonderful in such a short time. It’s a pretty intense experience to meet, collaborate, shoot and edit a film clip in 10 days!

CM: If you were to describe the video you produced in three words, what would they be?
Smooth, jazz, chill.

CM: What was your favourite memory from the 10×10 process?
It’s a bit random but one of the director’s wives made Cornflake crunchies as part of catering for shoot day and they were delicious and helped to keep my energy levels up! It was so great to meet these new people and get a personal connection and comfort in such a short period of time. 

CM: Would you recommend that other musicians participate in a challenge like 10×10 in the future?
Absolutely! It’s a great way to get yourself out there, challenge yourself, and meet new people. Having a music video is such an asset to help promote your work.

CM: You made your video with filmmakers Cael Snelson and Robbie Greenwell. What did you enjoy about working with them?
Both Cael and Rob were very enthusiastic and passionate about their craft. They absolutely love it and hopefully working with me also helped them develop their skills and gain more experience working in this field.

Parvyn’s new track and music video is slated for release in July. For now, connect with her on Instagram and Spotify.

The Fuss

The Fuss is an indie five-piece band based on Kaurna land.

CM: For 10×10, you made a music video for a new single “Seeing Blue”, if you had to describe the video in just three words, what would they be?
Exciting, vibrant, fun.

CM: You made your video with Harry Kellaway and Paddy Madden, what was your favourite part about working with them?
There are so many things we loved about working with our filmmakers Harry and Paddy but the one that stands out is how much of a collaborative experience they made by listening to our ideas for the video and making them a reality.

CM: What was your favourite memory from the 10×10 process?
We had just filmed one of the garden scenes and at this point had not seen anything we shot but this time we gathered round to see what it looked like and remember seeing how good it looked and having the feeling of relief that it was going to be a great music video and we were in great hands.

CM: Would you recommend that other musicians participate in a challenge like 10×10 in the future?
Yes, 100 per cent, music videos add so much value to the music they accompany but to many, they are a daunting and out-of-reach prospect but Norwood Cheek gives the opportunity to let the music come to life in an accessible and rewarding way.

The Fuss’ new single “Seeing Blue” will be released later in the year. Connect with them on Instagram and get around to their gigs.