Expectation vs. reality. That’s what Fickle Friends are playing with in their new video for ‘Hard To Be Myself’ – which you can watch now, first, on Dork.
Apparently, this doesn’t relate to the fact that we expect solid gold bangers from our choosy chums, and they always – ALWAYS – deliver. Instead, it’s about what we fantasise will happen, and what we’re really, actually, like.
As director Daniel Harris explains: “The split-screen concept for Fickle Friends’ ‘Hard To Be Myself’ was built off the structure of ‘Expectation’ vs ‘Reality’, all based around a ‘90s American Frat House party aesthetic.
“From the beginning of the two narratives, I wanted to create a clear point of difference in the behaviour of our lead, Leo, by directing a left-side character that was relentlessly decisive, unapologetically confident and free from social inhibition versus a right-side character that was uncomfortable in his own skin and nervous. Then we surrounded him with the same character-set in the two different realities, one inside the party and the other on the doorstep, uninvited.
“These played side by side created a really beautiful juxtaposition. Alongside the narrative, we peppered in a gorgeous telephoto performance of Natti and shots from the band that flow along with the story.”
Which, being honest, is definitely on the ‘reality’ side of what’s going on. You can check out the clip below.
Apparently, this doesn’t relate to the fact that we expect solid gold bangers from our choosy chums, and they always – ALWAYS – deliver. Instead, it’s about what we fantasise will happen, and what we’re really, actually, like.
As director Daniel Harris explains: “The split-screen concept for Fickle Friends’ ‘Hard To Be Myself’ was built off the structure of ‘Expectation’ vs ‘Reality’, all based around a ‘90s American Frat House party aesthetic.
“From the beginning of the two narratives, I wanted to create a clear point of difference in the behaviour of our lead, Leo, by directing a left-side character that was relentlessly decisive, unapologetically confident and free from social inhibition versus a right-side character that was uncomfortable in his own skin and nervous. Then we surrounded him with the same character-set in the two different realities, one inside the party and the other on the doorstep, uninvited.
“These played side by side created a really beautiful juxtaposition. Alongside the narrative, we peppered in a gorgeous telephoto performance of Natti and shots from the band that flow along with the story.”
Which, being honest, is definitely on the ‘reality’ side of what’s going on. You can check out the clip below.
On writing ‘Hard To Be Myself’, our Natti explains: “[It’s] a song about social awkwardness and anxiety. Wanting to be someone else so desperately, dreaming you were the life of the party. It’s the idea that a certain person can kinda loosen your senses and lower your inhibitions just like drinking alcohol. This song was a work in progress for about a year and a half, but it got to maybe the 30th rewrite and we just had to be like “ok let’s stop messin’ with this” ha.”
Fickle Friends have just finished their biggest headline tour to date, including a show at London’s Kentish Town Forum. They’ve set themselves up for a blockbuster 2018. Watch this space.
