Therese Owen
PRIME Circle have an epic new video out for Doors, the second single from their album, Let the Night In. Directed by Ryan Kruger, the video explores the possibility of maybe, or maybe not, landing on Mars. It stars big-name actors like Graham Clarke, Brandon Auret and Grant Erskine.
It is filmed as a big box-office production in the vein of Armageddon and other space films.
With emotion, high drama and strong imagery, this video is certainly in the running for Best Video in next year’s South African Music Awards.
Vocalist Ross Learmonth is particularly pleased with it: “Ryan Kruger always does epic music videos and approaches them like they are films. The basic idea of the video is what if South Africa had the capacity to play the same space games as Russia and China and maybe we don’t land on Mars? There are a lot of lies out there. But at the end of this video there is a happy ending, which is love.
“Ryan pulled a lot of strings for this video, but the actors all wanted to be a part of it which is a cool thing because we don’t like being in our own videos.”
Aside from the release of this world-class video, Prime Circle have just returned from another tour of Europe.
“We are working with a promoter who works with Madonna and AC/DC and this time around we played Italy for the first time. It went well. We are doing particularly well in Germany. We started out playing to five people and now we are playing 700 sellout theatres. That is thanks to our tour with Seether and 3 Doors Down. On this tour we also did an acoustic set in Austria at this house where groups like Depeche Mode play. The UK was also amazing and there was an even split between South Africans and other people.”
Meanwhile, back in South Africa they are preparing for two big concerts. No longer satisfied with the same old tour circuit, Prime Circle have taken their shows to the next level by playing concerts in small arenas with bigger and better sound and lighting. This included the Grand Arena in Cape Town and Montecasino’s Teatro.
Their next big gig is on Friday at Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre in Joburg followed by Fancourt in George on December 21 and Kirstenbosch Gardens on January 4.
“These shows are a continuation of the Let The Night In shows. I love telling stories which is what I do in these shows and these will include information about behind the scenes.
“For the event in Fancourt we have Tailor, The Parlotones’ Kahn Morbee and Gangs of Ballet. We asked Tailor to play with us because her new album is great and I love her music. She has a cool edge to her.
“ Kahn has embarked on his solo career and with Gangs of Ballet, when they play, they push us. They are one of the best bands to come out of this country. They are the next phase of rock.”
So they are not threatened by the Gangs? Learmonth shrugs: “We are in a place where we are comfortable with where we are.”