Shot over two nights at Kismet, a music video for Reece Milton’s single Take It Easy pulled together a myriad of local actors to create a glamorous black and white world harkening back to the Casablanca era. Judene Edgar takes a look at how it came together.
Photos by Peanut Butter Vibes
Tucked away in the industrial zone of Nelson surrounded by shipping containers and storage facilities is StudioBox Creative recording studio, management company, and home of Antipodes Records. Unassuming from the outside, inside is a professional recording studio that is helping launch careers.
Started as a passion project by bass guitarist, songwriter and producer Mat Charles of former Nelson band Urban to record their first album Everything Except Time, StudioBox Creative is now helping to launch the career of 21-year-old pop/rock guitar virtuoso and singer songwriter Reece Milton.
Inspired by Guns n’ Roses lead guitarist Slash, Reece started teaching himself guitar with the help of the internet at age 15. At Nayland College he joined the band So Far, and together they placed second in the 2017 Smokefree Rockquest regional heat. The next year, with 7-piece band The Recliners, and Reece once again on guitar, they won the Smokefree Rockquest regional heat.
Reece began song writing which led to him needing to sing to work on his songs. “My parents were constantly telling me to sing, but I wasn’t very confident initially,” he says. “Then I went to Rock Camp at the Playhouse Café and Theatre and I surprised them at the finale concert by singing. I never would have thought I’d want to be the front man, but I enjoyed it so much that I haven’t stopped.”
Reece entered a competition run by StudioBox Creative, winning a professional recording of his debut song Once In a Lifetime with legendary UK producer Greg Haver (of Manic Street Preachers and Melanie C fame) under the management of Jane Baken. Once in a Lifetime was released in 2019 and Reece was offered a management contract with StudioBox Creative.
Perhaps best known for establishing Soundstage, Nelson’s longest running professional musical and performing arts school in 2008, as the daughter of professional jazz musician Rupert Winter, Jane has been immersed in the music industry her entire life, and has been performing and touring since she was 17. After graduating from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts she toured overseas prior to returning to Nelson to set up Soundstage.
“I wanted to provide young people with the opportunity to develop their talents and to follow their dreams,” she says. “My upbringing was fairly unique; I was often at a jazz gig while other kids were at primary school, but it gave me so much and I just wanted to be able to offer young performers a facility that wasn’t available when I was young.”
Needing to expand her horizons, Jane left Soundstage in the capable hands of her mother Gabby Winter and a team of talented tutors, and shifted to Australia working as a talent scout, agent and artist manager. “Having run a business and worked and toured as an artist, I understand both worlds,” she says. “Understanding artists is critical to being a good manager.”
Returning to Nelson and joining Mat at StudioBox Creative in 2019, “together we’ve been able to expand the business to add artist management services and partner with some incredibly talented producers, directors, photographers and creatives.” Their latest collaboration has been the release of Reece’s new single Take It Easy. Featuring Reece’s signature slick guitar riffs, Take It Easy was released at a launch event at Kismet Cocktail and Whiskey Bar last month complete with music video written and directed by Laura Irish. Cinematography was done by Bevan Crothers who has shot Stan Walker’s live concert event Impossible: Live, and Wellington Paranormal, and rounding out the creative team was the powerhouse production, design and costume duo Jonny Eagle and Melissa Spratt of Innit Creative.
With the film industry closing down due to Covid, and seeking a slower and more environmentally way of life, Jonny and Melissa relocated to Nelson in 2020. Together, they bring a wealth of experience having worked on major motion pictures and television shows such as 1917, Guardians of the Galaxy, No Time to Die, London Kills and Assassin’s Creed. “I wanted to showcase Reece’s music with the production value that his talent deserves,” says Jane. “We have created a statement video that showcases Reece as an artist.” Intended as a “period piece short film”, Laura says that she wanted to focus on Reece’s genuine love for his guitar, “which became its own character in the shoot.”
Shot over two nights at Kismet, the music video pulled together a myriad of local actors to create a glamorous black and white world harkening back to the Casablanca era, complete with period costume design thanks to Melissa. “It was great to be able to flex my design experience,” says Melissa. “I loved researching the era.” She needed to create a total of 30 separate looks which took two weeks of fittings alone. “Laura had a clear vision and drew out such strong performances,” says Jonny. “It was an incredible experience to be a part of, and despite hearing the song literally hundreds of times, I still absolutely love it. Reece also had a great screen presence; very subtle but powerful.”
Already available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, Take It Easy is the hero song of Reece’s debut album Elixir which is being released later this month. “He writes incredible songs and has an extensive catalogue of music,” says Jane. “We wanted to create a magic backdrop to showcase Reece’s solely original sound and really make a statement in preparation for this release of his album.” With New Zealand having a quota system for local music, Jane is also hoping to capture the attention of radio stations so that the song will get radio placement.
While Covid had put touring on hold for the past two years, Reece is ready to take his new album out on the road. As well as having played with Paul Ubana Jones, Reece has opened for Tim Allen and The Two, toured with his band featuring guitarist Jack Rollinson, bass guitarist Isaac Stewart and drummer Sam Edmonds, and has performed at festivals including the Kapiti Music Festival, the NZ Cider Festival and performed solo as an opener for Opera in the Park. And his next step is an Australasia tour opening for fellow StudioBox creative artist Australian pop/rock singer songwriter Nathan Foley.
An original member of the multi-award-winning group Hi-5, Nathan performed, toured and filmed the television show for 10 years. He has since gone on to perform as a soloist at major national events such as the V8 Supercars, World Masters Games and Australia Day celebrations as well as touring in the musical Mamma Mia and working on international cruises, including being the first Australian to win the title of Princess Cruises Entertainer of the Year.
Following the release of his upcoming original album in Australia next month, Nathan is embarking on a tour of Australia, New Zealand and Asia in 2023. “They are both pop/rock genre and Nathan’s fans are similar to Reece’s, so they will really complement each other,” says Jane who has been managing Nathan for the past three years having previously represented him in Australia. Having grown up watching Nathan on television, Reece says that it’s a bit surreal opening for him. “I’m really looking forward to the tour. This is the dream.”
Listen and watch Take It Easy on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube
