Opening the Waikato Times last Saturday, local songstress Little Lapin’s cute rabbit symbol popped up all over a full-page feature on the singer/songwriter’s rising career and recently released debut music video.
Using the stage name Little Lapin, a few weeks back, we reported on Lucy Cioffi’s success winning a music video competition for her single “Silent Tears,” shot by Hamilton based film and production company Indiefilm.
Holding an official video release party on Tuesday at Milk & Honey Café in Hamilton, the finished clip filmed at Woodlands historic homestead features gorgeous ethereal and nostalgic imagery to compliment Lucy’s sound.
“I really love it, Indiefilm have done a great job going above and beyond what the competition entailed. It’s a little abstract so people can take their own meaning from it and it’s not too literal,” said Lucy.
Starting her ten-hour day of shooting at five in the morning, she recalls it being “so cold,” wearing her spotty socks underneath the beautiful gowns provided for the shoot by Annah Stretton.
“I’ve never acted before and I guess with the video it’s more about the visual and not about the music so it was quiet alien to me,” said Lucy.
Shot at 35 frames per second, Lucy was also required to lip-sync at double time so when Indiefilm slowed the video down her lips would be matched to the song.
“It was such a fun day hanging out with the crew, everyone was pitching in to help because the production manager couldn’t make it and there was a real sense of achievement at the end of the day,” she said, referring to her hairdresser Michael as the Gok Kwan of Hamilton.
The final result is a visually stunning music video with a romantic, soft feel with just a touch of melancholy. The vintage clips from Great Expectations, Phantom of the Opera and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde add a wistful flavor, almost like watching an old short film.
With her video release and EP on track, Lucy got news that her single “Silent Tears” will be featured on NZ on Air’s September Kiwi Hit Disc. A 14-track promotional CD produced every month, the hit disc features the most current, broadcast-ready songs from NZ music groups or individual artists.
Gearing up to promote her single and upcoming EP, Little Lapin will be playing a live gig at the Wine Cellar in Auckland on the 30th of August.
Meaning ‘Little Rabbit’ in French, Little Lapin will be sharing the stage that night with a band appropriately titled French for Rabbits.
