Single Review: Seem Alright

This week Will McClean releases Seem Alright, the second track from his upcoming album Don’t Forget To Breathe, alongside an accompanying video clip.

Seem Alright is a punchy upbeat jazz-funk hip-hop track that has been nicely arranged, with a dash of clarinet, strings, and a sampled jazz vocal for the chorus.

McClean has great flow and a real “Kiwi” sound in his delivery. The lyrics are positive and inspirational and the song travels along with an infectious energy. It’s really catchy and a very enjoyable listen.

The video clip for the track was directed once again by Mason Rudd and features a classic Holden Kingswood on the rooftop of a building in Wellington City. There is a low-fi retro look and feel to the clip, and shots of the surrounding buildings and street art are reminiscent of 90’s hip-hop nostalgia.

McClean is sporting a beret and a briefcase, which gives the video a whole metropolitan vibe. The car is perhaps broken down, parked up with its bonnet open, which ties in with the meaning behind the song; when things are seemingly going wrong in life, we can stop and align ourselves with the present moment, and realise that we are really OK in the here and now. And things start to “seem alright”.

The editing on the clip is clever; teasing in some shots of McClean busting out his dance moves, and overlaid with some interesting layout changes and effects, all set against a cinematic feast for the eyes high above the city-scape. Some friends appear to be possibly stranded with Will, leaning against the car with their backs to the camera. The silhouetted shots are simply stunning as dusk falls over the city, and Rudd has captured just the perfect gestures and moves for every moment.

The closing shots feature all three friends dancing with carefree abandon on the rooftop as darkness falls under a crescent moon. An unopened card addressed “To Will” is put to the flame, signifying perhaps the burning of bridges, or the releasing of someone’s energy or attachment. The meaning here is unclear so this adds a little mystery.

An absolute pleasure to review this track and video clip, and I think this one is really going to go off. I’m looking forward to the full album’s release in July.