Nadia Phillips:
Music and Community
Nadia on location, just outside Castlemaine.
Music and Community: two words etched deeply into the heart of singer-songwriter Nadia Phillips. For 18 year old, growing up in the small township of Castlemaine in regional Victoria shaped her yearning to create a sense of community around her musical trajectory.
In a town of less than seven thousand people, Nadia fondly recalls her upbringing as an only child with parents whose lives were intertwined in music. Her dad: an 80s punk musician; her childhood friends: a loving collection of people of all ages, gathered from the tight-knit community and music festivals experienced with friends and family.
Intrigued by the arthouse atmosphere of Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal, Nadia became a frequent face at world music gigs the venue hosted. Inspired by the way that music brought together the community at those shows, Nadia assembled a small crew of young creatives from her hometown to produce a videoclip that is a stand-out.
When the pandemic took hold in Europe, filmmaker Henry Evans was forced home to Castlemaine after 5 years abroad.
“Henry was someone I only knew from a distance at secondary school (as he was a few years older than me), but a chance meeting led to getting him on board as the Director and Editor for the clip,” said Nadia.
“After chatting with him, I could see ways to bring my friends into the fold for the project. I was inspired to introduce my friend and budding filmmaker Maya Tummino to the team.”
Nadia also wanted to bring in local photographer and drone enthusiast Yauka Lam to share the experience. Another skill base that was needed was construction for props, so friend Rudi Jahne was quick to give a hand.
Integral to the project was the styling of Nadia’s look for the videoclip. Again Nadia called on the wealth of talent in her local friendship pool, and the dress designed by Gabrielle Sharkey adds something truly special to the imagery.
“There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic had left many of us at a loose end in Castlemaine, with travel, work and study plans abandoned.”
“I’m so pleased with the end result, but most of all, I loved seeing how well everyone got along and how it inspired us all to tap into our creativity. Much better than bemoaning a lost year of exploring the world!”, she laughs.
To continue to support each other, these young people are all mindful to acknowledge and share the love on social media and beyond. This collaborative approach is sure to keep these creative country kids feeling part of a community, wherever their paths lead them.
"I hope to continue to build my community of collaborators with future releases, to help each other shape our careers," said Nadia.
Video credits:
Director and Editor - Henry Evans
Art Director & Stills - Maya Tummino
Drone Operator & Stills - Yauka Lam
Costume Design - Gabrielle Sharkey @ole.uckers.