Select a region
A Jersey singer-songwriter has teamed up with a group of local creatives to release a music video for his recent "sassy" single, which was inspired by the empowering feeling you get when you tell someone: "It's too late".
Queer electronic-pop singer Ben O'Shea – also known as 'Shea' – released his pop hit 'U Mine' featuring LGBTQIA+ London rapper 'Carterthebandit' in July.
Le Montais – the stage name of Jersey-born singer, songwriter, and producer, Rebecca Lewis – also collaborated with Shea on the single, as well as on his debut LP.
Set to be released next year, Shea's LP will include four tracks that address issues such as personal relationships and body image in a "direct and honest" manner, featuring "angelic" vocals and "trap beats".
View this post on Instagram
The music video for one of the tracks, 'U Mine', was released today.
Produced by ArtHouse Jersey, it was shot on location at Grosnez Castle and St Ouen's Manor.
Local dancer Kirsten Chapman choreographed the routine for the video, which was filmed by Jersey cinematographer Will Jack Robinson.
Shea described U Mine as “a sarcastic response to a guy who ghosted me for six months and then one day texted me just the word 'cuteee,' hence the opening line, 'You text me cute with a triple 'e'.”
He explained: “As the song provokes a feeling of empowerment, giving a sassy 'it's too late now' response, we wanted the video to do the same, and so the location became immediately important."
Grosnez Castle and St Ouen's Manor were chosen because they “felt regal, powerful and made a statement”.
“Little did we know there was a link between the two sites – the stones taken from the castle were used to help build the manor,” he added.
Shea worked as a professional actor for six years after graduating from university, before returning to Jersey in 2019 to "spend more time with family".
Since being back in Jersey, Shea has released a number of singles including ‘SuperStars’ (2020), ‘Man Up’ (2021), and ‘Love and Lessons’ (2021).
He has also produced a short film about men's mental health: The Man Up Project.
All of these initiatives were supported by ArtHouse Jersey, which Shea described as a “fantastic local resource that I want every local artist or creative to know about”.
WATCH: Dazzling 'fairy dragmothers' help local songster through break-up
"A voice for women figuring out who they are"
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.