Auckland country singer songwriter Kendall Elise has just released her debut album, Red Earth, which features the track ‘Kirks Bush’. RNZ Music is proud to be the first to share the song’s brand new video.
Born and raised in Auckland’s Papakura, Kendall Elise has been making music for a number of years with bands including The Situations and Thee Rum Covers.
She released her first solo EP I Didn’t Stand A Chance in 2017.
‘Kirks Bush’ is from Kendall's debut album Red Earth, which came out on May 3.
The song takes its inspiration from a notorious scenic reserve near Kendall’s childhood home in Papakura.
“When I was a young girl, Kirks Bush had a dark reputation. Everyone I knew had a story about something terrible that had gone on in there,” Kendall says.
When Kendall was 11, she’d walk past Kirks Bush on her way to school every day. Eventually, she started using the reserve as a shortcut, despite having been warned by her parents not to.
“I loved the feeling of tranquillity and peace as I walked further along the path and deeper into the middle of the bush. The busy sound of the traffic would begin to dissipate; I’d lift my eyes up to the canopy and see the dappled light flickering from between the leaves, and I’d never feel unsafe.”
For Kendall the song ‘Kirks Bush’ symbolises the inequality that women experience growing up. “You’re often taught to take the long way around as a safety technique. But also metaphorically, it’s a way to prepare girls for the gender inequality they’ll experience.”
The video for ‘Kirks Bush’ was filmed and directed by award-winning music videographer, TV and documentary director, editor and photographer, Amber Beaton.
“I love working with Amber and her team, Amber has a great visual style and I feel it really lends itself to this song. She understands exactly what the song is about and created a video that really compliments the track”
‘Kirks Bush’ is the third track from Kendall’s debut album Red Earth, which is mostly based on her memories of growing up in Papakura.
Red Earth is on Apple and Spotify
