Sydney singer-songwriter Jane Walker's latest single, 'Lazy', is a delightful indie pop song that reminds us to make time to unwind when everyday stresses loom.
Lush, twinkling piano and Hammond organ tones are married to gloriously dusty, almost nonchalant drums and serenely calm bass notes that create a soulful art-pop number bordering trip-hop vibes – it's reminiscent of another era, yet remains contemporary.Walker's comforting, earthy vocals detail lyrics related to enjoying the simpler moments in life by letting go and indulging in 'lazy' activities like procrastinating with friends under the gaze of the sun.
After a stint living in London, where she collaborated with the likes of Chris Difford of Squeeze and Adam Levy (Norah Jones), Walker has also written music with The Cruel Sea's James Cruickshank, producers Steve James and Barbara Griffin, and Indigenous group Street Warriors and Bobby Flynn.
"[In London I recognised] my identity as Australian and my connection is to the land here, and I wanted to come back home," Walker says.
"More and more I try to live in the present moment, and find when I'm there, nature rushes in. . . this influences my songwriting and musical choices."
This process resulted in the birth of 'Lazy'. "Rather than sit in resentment and blame others, I can write a song," Jane says.
Released last month, today scenestr is thrilled to premiere the 'Lazy' music video. Enjoy.
Filmed entirely in Melbourne, on Wurundjeri Woi wurrung and Boonwurrung country of the Kulin Nations, Jane is joined by Melbourne artist Zan Griffith (who've been friends since a young age), dressed in an orange bear head, skipping along the banks of the Birrarung (Yarra River) and picnicking in Carlton Gardens before Jane visits Lightscape at night in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
"It is not every day you get to skip along the riverbanks of a big city with a giant teddy bear," shares Jane.
"A couple of passing kayakers were so distracted they almost capsized! And navigating the filming in the Lightscape show with thousands of other people walking past was an interesting challenge."
The teddy bear character was inspired by the community generated idea of putting a teddy bear on a street-facing windowsill so neighbourhood children could go on a teddy bear hunt during lockdowns.
"Making this video felt like a continuation of the happy times we used to have when small. . . dreaming up teddy bear worlds together," Zan says.
Jane Walker will live launch 'Lazy' at Low 302 (Sydney) 11 August.
