Premiere: Death By Denim unveil the clip for their latest single, Small World

Despite only just sharing their debut album at the tail-end of last year, the Perth quick-risers are already sharing new music.

Tweet
Copy Link

Header image by Dan Hilderbrand.

It's become incredibly clear that Death By Denim aren't messing around. After sharing their Suburban Royalty EP back in 2017, the Perth-raised indie-rockers haven't slowed down for even a slight second, sharing a string of singles in the time since - as well as constant touring - that has solidified the four-piece as a defining name of Perth's indie-rock next generation, and now, one of its big, breakthrough artists.

It's a trajectory that culminated - or at least it seemed to - with the release of their debut album Sleepless and Sunkissed in late November last year; a charming 11-track collection of songs that introduced Death By Denim to those not yet acquainted, and for everyone else, showcased their strengths and how far they've evolved and grown in the space of just a few years. "It's a record that brings their strengths together; eleven tracks of catchy indie-pop - and some exploration beyond that - which draws comparisons to groups like Tame Impala and MGMT albeit with a unique twist, separating Death By Denim from the rest of Australia's saturated indie-rock space," we said with its release last year.

However, it's become clear that Death By Denim aren't keen on slowing down. At the start of this month, the group got back together to share a new single titled Small World, their first release for the year - and the first since releasing Sleepless and Sunkissed - which brought a natural extension upon the sound they emphasised on their debut album, heightening the maturity and sense of reflection within their songwriting without losing the charm and energy that have captivated so many people over the last few years.

"I’m in my room, my bank account is quite low, I’m cut up over a relationship ending, lacking self-esteem, a bit sick and just generally trying to figure out what I’m doing with my life," says the band's Palle Mazzulla as he introduces the context of the track, which he further explains: "Things haven’t gone the way I wanted in certain areas – so I wrote this song. I am very fortunate that my problems don’t compare to what’s going on in the world right now thanks to the pandemic, but they still feel heavy."

Today, however, we gather to premiere the official video clip to Small World, which branches further into the sense of isolation and vulnerability that Mazzulla talks about; a vulnerability that drives the subtle, thoughtful nature of Death By Denim's return. The video is largely quite bright and colourful, creating this contrast against the single's darker nature, which is brought to life through some Wes Anderson-inspired placing.

"Approaching this music video, I found myself focusing on the feeling of isolation and the sense of invisibility that the band had written about," says the video's director, Perth-based visual heavyweight Daniel Hildebrand. "To match the visuals to the upbeat track, I wanted the shots to have a bright and vivid look while still exploring a range of lonesome emotions. I took a stylized Wes Anderson approaching while setting up my frames to create a comfortable shot for the eye to sit in."

It's a brilliant video that adds a further layer to Death By Denim's return, and you can take a dive into it below, as it premieres on Pilerats amidst the conclusion of their long-overdue album tour happening right now: