Dunedin Indie Pop outfit Marlin’s Dreaming have teamed up with Erny Belle on a new song and video that both honours and upends the modern country ballad.
‘Earnestly’ is an indie/country concoction that takes a tongue-in-cheek look at modern romance, through the lens of a couple talking past each other, with a break up or undying love equally on the cards.
The single is released alongside a new music video (Directed by Marlin’s Dreaming singer Semisi Ma’ia’i) that places the modern romance in an off-kilter sleazy bar room, populated by elderly dancers that drift, sway, sweat and smoke in a dreamy state inspired by the films of David Lynch and the early Coen Brothers.
The video’s unsettling premise reflects a song that points to the difficulty of reaching truth in throngs romance.
"For the video I had the idea of creating a slightly horrific country bar setting. I watched the film, 'Blood Simple', the first Coen Brothers film, and loved the way the characters and the bars scenes conjure up a kind of a physical revulsion.. Everything is so sweaty, dusty & imperfect. Which presents this incredible with the words of the song," Ma’ia’i says.
Lyrics that ring of a classical ballad; ‘I’ve been runnin’ wild for you’, or ‘save me from this here storm’ - are pulled into question by the pair’s constant, almost suspicious, insistence they are speaking ‘earnestly’.
Marlin’s Dreaming frontman, Semisi Ma’ia’i, describes the track as "about a dysfunctional relationship where both sides don’t seem to be completely aligned, but at the same time both sides are madly in-love with each-other. There’s a tongue & cheek element to it though, where both narratives are asking flowery, contemplative questions, but to no immediate avail.”
The song is the first release from Marlin’s Dreaming since their 2021 album ‘Hasten’, a record called “glorious”’, by the usually understated John Campbell on TVNZ Breakfast. While that record was an acoustically driven album exploring themes of post-pandemic life, the new song marks a step towards a fully formed and cinematic take on indie pop. Ma’ia’i’s voice comes to the fore to present a strong focus on song narrative, and a polished high quality production.
Teaming up with Aotearoa songstress Erny Belle, was a no-brainer, says Semisi Ma’ia’i.
“I met Aimee (Erny Belle) maybe a year or so ago. I’d been listening to Erny Belle’s album ‘Venus is home’ & absolutely loved (& still love) every song. Such great songwriting & story-telling – so to have Aimee keen to sing on this song just made me so happy. I couldn’t possibly imagine this song without Erny Belle singing on it."