Irish Electronica meets Pacifika Culture

AUCKLAND, Monday: Film Construction Director Ayla Amano tells a powerful story in her music video Familial, set in South Auckland for storied Irelands electronic artist Daithi (scroll down for the link).

Shortlisted for three Kinsale Shark Awards, the clip is up for Best Music Video, Best Direction and Best New Director.

Steeped in both tenderness and strength, the underlying beat echoes the emotion of the song’s subject matter. Filmed at the Otara Markets, suburban South Auckland, and the beautiful St Columba Anglican Church in Grey Lynn.

Prominent Samoan actors Jeremiah Tauamiti, Villa Junior Lemanu and Samson Vaotuua – star in this compelling narrative music clip.

Says Director Ayla Amano:“While coming home to New Zealand in early 2021 to visit family, I found myself reconnecting with my hometown and the community where I grew up. I was reminded of New Zealand’s unique position in the Pacific.

“Pacifika communities are integral to the spirit of Auckland. After spending time in Ireland, I could draw some unexpected parallels between the two cultures – wildly different, but both with a powerful sense of family, community, humour and warmth.”

“Our Pacifika communities are so integral to the spirit of Auckland. And after spending time in Ireland, I could draw some unexpected parallels between the two cultures – wildly different on the surface, but both with a powerful sense of family and community, as well as humour and warmth that my Irish partner immediately connected with.

“Filming while I was six months pregnant provided yet another layer to the story. We spent a lot of time on set talking about family and reflecting on where we’d come from.

“As Daithi puts it: Every sample should have a backstory, and every song should be personal.

“Daithi’s mantra was honoured in Familial. The opening scene was filmed at the Otara Markets, where Villa recalls spending Saturday mornings as a child.

“The home scenes were filmed in Samson’s mother’s house. And Jeremiah guided Ayla in understanding the church’s role in the Samoan culture and psyche.

MTC!
“And there’s more to come. Filming has just been completed for the next Ayla/Daithi collab.”

CREDITS

Production Company: Film Construction
Director/Editor: Ayla Amano
Producer/AD/Stills: Brendan Canty
Cinematography: Fergus Cahill
Choreographer: Villa Junior Lemanu
Executive Producer/Stills: Belinda Bradley
Production Manager: Ferris Bradley
Production Assistant: Roberto Nascimento
1st AC: Glen Manchester
2nd AC: Dom Lloyd/Halcyon DigitalGaffer: Diego Cortinas
Best Girl: Jacqueline O’Gary
Cast: Jeremiah Tauamiti, Villa Junior Lemanu, Samson Vaotuua
Special Thanks: Seumanu Simon Matāfai and the Auckland Gospel Choir.

About Film Construction
A production house that sits on a green hill and collects its own rainwater. We cultivate fresh thinking filmmakers where craft leads first.

• www.filmconstruction.com

About Daithí
Daithí is an electronic music producer obsessed with the culture of Ireland. The two-time Choice Music Prize nominee combines nature recordings, old Irish samples, and analogue synths to create unique house music soaked in Irish culture.

A mainstay in the Irish gigging scene, his live show is an improvised performance, creating on the spot dance music using synths, drum machines and live fiddle. A few years ago, Daithí found a forgotten recording of his grandmother, where she talked about how she met her husband, and what it was like living in the west of Ireland for the past 90 years.

Daithi sampled this recording to create Mary Keanes Introduction, a track that captured the imagination of millions of Irish people across the world, and became one of the most successful Irish singles that year, staying no.1 in the Spotify viral charts for six weeks. It proved Daithí’s mantra on music: Every sample should have a backstory, and every song should be personal.

• Connect with Daithí: facebook.com/daithimusic