Watch Erny Belle's Video For 'Island Time'

Wishing us happy holidays a month ago with her festive insta-classic 'Meri Kirihimete', Erny Belle aka Aimee Renata's (Ngāpuhi) gifts us a romantic alternative to the nine-five grind with a new video for 'Island Time', from her acclaimed debut album Venus Is Home. Self-directed and produced by Renata, shot at Te Arai on analogue film stock by Ezra Simons (Earth Tongue, Soft Bait) and made with support from NZ On Air, the clip co-stars Navakatoa Tekela-Pule (Strangelove) as the Stetson hat wearing The Man From The Islands, tenderly strumming his acoustic guitar and dancing with the red-garbed songwriter on the sandy shore. Originally self-released in early '22, Venus Is Home is being reissued in a new vinyl edition courtesy of Flying Nun — hit play on 'Island Time' below...

"'Island Time' is an ode to the Pacific. I picture myself and the times I spent looking out at the view from Te Arai beach, from the waters edge and my sister's porch. I spent a lot of time contemplating my creative visions and the loss and prospects of love on the horizon. The chorus is a mantra on perseverance and self belief.

Though there's a lot behind the love story, I think really it's a love song to pacific culture and beautiful brown people, maybe I needed to give myself that back.

My good friend Navakatoa plays The Man From The Islands. He is also the bassist for the Erny Belle band, It's special that we've been able to capture ourselves at this time, I think it's really sweet we'll be able to look back at it in years to come and be reminded of everything we were doing musically at this time. It was shot at Te Arai, which is a special place to me." — Erny Belle

'Venus Is Home' is out now on major streaming services – vinyl edition orders available HERE.