The Brunettes - B-A-B-Y

What this video is

Released in early 2008 to promote 'Structure & Cosmetics' (Sub Pop, 2007), the 'B-A-B-Y' video captures The Brunettes at the peak of their international visibility. Formed in Auckland in 1998 by Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield, the band built a sound rooted in 1960s girl-group pop, Phil Spector Wall of Sound production, and early Motown melody, filtered through New Zealand indie sensibility. Their Sub Pop…

Why it matters

The video is a textbook artifact of late-2000s twee-inflected indie pop visual language: high-contrast pastels, theatrical performance staging, and fashion-as-signifier all align with the aesthetic codes of the Sub Pop indie scene of the era. It documents the internationalisation of New Zealand…

The director

Darren Roark is a Los Angeles-based post-production professional and director. He is credited on IMDb for directing projects including BillCosby Bukowski (2011), Irv de Toilette (2005), and Lord of the Rinks (2006), and has also worked in editorial,…