One of the greatest things to come out of quarantine is all the DIY music videos from artists and bands across the world.
Dave Grohl, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Ellie Goulding, Dua Lipa, and many more have teamed up for a virtual cover of Foo Fighters’ hit “Times Like These” filmed from their respective homes; Major Lazer and Mumford & Sons’ Marcus Mumford recruited more than 200 artists from 28 countries for the Earth Day-inspired video for their collaborative single ‘Lay Your Head on Me’; and even Crowded House got in on the action and shared a version of their 1987 hit ‘Something So Strong’, recorded in self-isolation from their own individual homes, among many others.
Now Geelong band LEEDEN may have just made our favourite isolation video yet for their new single ‘Skin and Bone’, creating the perfect slice of quarantine rock.
Boasting playful instruments, smooth vocals, breezy harmonies and limitless energy, ‘Skin and Bone’ captures you right from the start and mesmerises with three minutes and 57 seconds of infectious, joyous sounds. Lyrically, ‘Skin and Bone’ is an ode for all those who have given all of themselves to someone else, down to the bone.
Led by LEEDEN’s own Matt Wilkinson on lead vocals, guitar and bass, and fellow LEEDEN members in percussionist, session muso and drummer extraordinaire Brad Dawson, and Adrian Vincent on piano and organ, the wholesome “little quarantine” visual sees talented artists from across the region, the nation, and even the world, come together in the name of music.
Australian actor Richard Cawthorne (known for his roles on Razor Eaters, Catching Milat, Underbelly & Wolf Creek) makes an appearance on the harmonica and backing vocals; Ben Jarvis from former Geelong heavyweights ‘The WhiteRoom’ spotlights on guitar; while Irish singer songwriter Fieldsy adds her wonderful and unique tones to the songs chorus of singers that also include Stephanie Wolf Matthews, Sally Venn and local legend Kate Daley, known for her ripping sell out Fleetwood Mac shows around Geelong.
Largely shot on iPhones, the collab also features appearances from session musicians and talented producers like Isaac Barter – who has worked with and plays with the like of Didirri – on synth and guitar, and local viral sensation Jaron Jay on guitar, who was recently got a shoutout from none other than Brian May and Queen on their Instagram.
Rounding out the performance is the Geelong bred, WAAPA alumni, now UK based session musician Ben Smith on trumpet, with some face melting guitar solos from virtuoso Johnny Zambelis and the Vainz own Nathan Mossop thrown in for good measure.
“I basically sent the video of Brad Dawson and myself playing the song live over to these legends, and I asked them to add whatever they wanted to it,” explains vocalist Matt Wilkinson. “The only instructions were to just to listen to it in some headphones… and if you think you can add something to the song, video yourself playing your part, send it back and I’ll paste it all together. And that’s exactly what happened.”
The whole thing is just superb and seeing all these musicians come together in the name of music is something truly special. Bravo!
With ‘Skin and Bone’ being their first single of the year, the follow-up to LEEDEN’s self-title EP back in 2018 (which was dubbed an enjoyable expedition into the depths of alt-rock music), we have a feeling 2020 is going to offer LEEDEN their moment to shine.
Check it out below.
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