The Making of ‘Sirius B’

The Making of ‘Sirius B’

The Music – Making Of Sirius B – Filming The Music Video

Written By Kymrie
It was February in 2023, and we had just attended our very first in person Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas City, MO… and it was freezing! Literally.

We had a plan, a map and van. Going via San Francisco to see my brother (who’s based in the Bay Area to give him a much needed hug, whether he wanted it or not, after our long-time separation during the pandemic), before driving south through New Mexico to Texas, final destination SXSW in Austin.

There was a reel I’d seen on my instagram, one of those targeted travel bloggers making everywhere look like a literal paradise, that popped up with the 7 places to see before you die… and one was White Sands National Park. Right as I saw it, the vision bloomed. White Sands…. This otherworldly oasis of pure gypsum dunes and blue skies…. I saw it – blue dress, crystals, the electric guitar… Yes! This would be the ultimate location to shoot a video! And that video would be celestial, cinematic and expansive…. And the song was Sirius B.

SO…. “Hey guys, we’ve got a stop off to make…”

10 days later, we’re in Las-Cruces… literally locked down in a Barnes & Noble, having pulled off the highway to the nearest shopping centre in a mad rush to shelter from a dust storm. Yes, they’re real, we found out… Dust storms are extremely dangerous! 4 hours of near zero visibility and then, the sun came back from red to its usual blinding brightness. Everyone was safe (the van in need of a wash), we picked our way through the debris to White Sands National Park.

It was absolutely pristine! The wind had blasted all the footprints away, forming new dunes and blowing the crowds of tourists out of the park. We had an additional project to do in White Sands (album cover ideas..?) but that’s another story. We scoped the lay of the land and I quickly re-visited my story board on how to make this film clip happen.

The next morning, bright and early, after munching a hearty breakfast, we got our outfits pressed and ready and jumped in the van off to the National Park for day 1 of the shoot (hopeful to get everything done in one day, as we hadn’t really accounted for more than that in our travel plans). I took my time on the drive to finalise hair and make up, adding the crystals to my hair as a final touch…

Camera woman – Mummager having been briefed on the visual directions took up the torch! From standing up on the van to catch the full band view, to laying down in the sand to get the skyward angles, Mummager flowed in and around us as we performed the song in this otherworldly setting.

The sun was warm, but the wind was icy, our watering eyes freezing a little… We swapped out roles, each person having time holding the camera to blend angles and get the fluidity of shots. The next thing was the celestial and Alchymie tools, against the brightness of the white sands. Yes… we wanted to incorporate another level of art within our visual representation of the music.

The location of this National Park is adjacent to The Trinity Sight – the testing place of the atomic bomb.

We didn’t know this when we first decided to film our video in the park, but upon learning this significant detail, it became clear to us the importance of what we were here to do. How landscape holds memory. Where there has been darkness, light must shine. Where there has been dis-ease, there must be love, and this feeling empowered us to the point of absolute determination to bring forward so much love and communication of healing in this place. Energetically calling on our Alchymie tools to touch the landscape with healing light, and feeling the energy surging through our own bodies.. radiating our own heart joy to light up the sands with the sun and in brightness. It was a transformative experience.

At the end of the day, as the sun set over the distant peaks and washed the crisp air with apricot and mauves, we stood in silence, and toasted to the wonder of creating art with guacamole and chip dip and a make-shift picnic in the back of the van.

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