Watch Our 2017 Music Video Highlights

When it came to selecting our New Zealand music video highlights of 2017 we asked ourselves "what images can't we get out of our heads?" The ten videos below showcase unforgettable visuals from across the map: gorgeous cinematography, weird costumes, amazing animation, stylish design, superb performances, and of course they all feature excellent tunes. Dive into our 2017 Music Video Highlights...

Auckland singer Jonathan Bree returned after two years of silence with an iconically weird self-directed clip for his single 'You're So Cool'. The world took notice, with TimeOut New York declaring that Bree is "100% the boldest and weirdest music video director working today."

It was a breakout year for Onehunga rappers SWIDT and they stepped into the ring in their video for 'Ric Flair' directed by Serra G, which featured wrestlers busting out brutal moves while the Auckland crew unleashed their award-winning raps...

In the self-directed video for Marlon Williams' catchy and charming single 'Vampire Again', the Lyttelton artist gets into a supernatural mode and memorably declares "I'm a swooper and you know it." Like a modern day Count Homogenised the singer lurks around corners in southern gothic garb ready to strike. Turns out a funny idea plus stylish direction is an ideal combination, as Williams' clip demonstrates below...

The video for Aldous Harding's Silver Scroll-nominated single 'Horizon' by director Charlotte Evans is a gorgeously filmed slice of stately gothic drama, using costumes and choreography to perfectly complement the song's minimal intensity...

If you want to make a video to get people hyped about your live show this is how you do it. The clip for The All Seeing Hand's single 'Live Specimens' features frenetic footage from multiple live shows edited together by Illojgali. The video showcases the drums/turntables/throat singing group's jaw-dropping set-pieces including a membrane which joins together all three members while they play, projected visuals, costumed stage performers and more...

The video for Mermaidens' brooding single 'Satsuma' features impeccable art direction and cinematography by filmmaker Ezra Simons. After watching the clip it's impossible to get the video's searing colours and imagery out of your mind...

Auckland artist i.e. crazy released her album Non Compos Mentis in 2017, and shared an artfully styled and abject clip for her cathartic single 'The Ape (Plastic Surgery Song)', directed by her collaborative project Literal Fuck. Other local artists who shared body-focussed clips in 2017 included Flo Wilson, Introverted Dancefloor and Indi. Check out 'The Ape (Plastic Surgery Song)' below...

What can be done with no budget at all? Wellington mystic rockers Hex proved you can make a memorable clip with just a few props and two enthusiastic actors with their self-directed video for 'Page Of Pentacles', starring singer Kiki Van Newtown and Wellington electronic artist Strange Stains. Another notable example of zero-budget excellence came from Dunedin guitar pop geniuses Coyote who dropped a run of killer DIY videos. Check out 'Page Of Pentacles' below...

In Yoko-Zuna's recent video for 'Voltron', the Auckland electronic dance group enlisted the help of the NZ LARP Society, an organisation dedicated to the practice of live action role-playing games. The resulting clip directed by Mikey Rockwell is a fantastical confection of myth and magic...

Wellington digital pop artist Disasteradio (aka Luke Rowell) made his comeback in 2017 after a seven year gulf between albums, which was filled by instrumental releases under the name Eyeliner. His lead single 'Oh Yeah' saw the artist teaming up with regular collaborator Simon Ward for a sci-fi high-definition animated clip, featuring Rowell journeying around the galaxy and riding a surfboard through outer space...