Music Industry News

deepState is the musical project of Jessica Morgan (she/her), a musician and songwriter based in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Teaming up with Sunreturn in 2021 for her debut MMXXI, Morgan has made her name for herself while exploring the nuances of House, Electronica, Downtempo, Garage and Breakbeat. deepState would go on to release MMXXI Remixes (featuring the likes of Dbldbl & Grecco Romank) along with singles with esteemed local electronic labels like Echo Train and Big Fresh Collective. In 2023 she released Dreams that would see her win Te Tohu Kohinga Mariu (Favourite Album) at the 2023 Student Radio Network Awards and nominated for 2024 Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau (Best Electronic Artist) at the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards. deepState’s tracks long for the dancefloor and she’s performed at The Others Way, Cross Street Music Festival, Newtown Fest, Camp A Low Hum and supported international talents such as Iglooghost.

Today, deepState returns with ‘Rain,’ the atmospheric title track from her forthcoming album, due for release on September 12. ‘Rain’ is accompanied by a lush music video made by Te Whanganui-a-Tara animator Ew Splat and made with assistance from NZ On Air Music.

Drawing inspiration from the moody, immersive soundscapes of 90s trip-hop and EDM, Rain channels the influence of Everything But The Girl, Straw People, and Single Gun Theory. Their impact can be heard in Rain’s rich production, melancholic tone, and understated emotional depth.

For Rain’s music video deepState returned to work with Now That You’re Gone’s 3D Artist and Illustrator Nic Little aka Ew Splat. Made with assistance from NZ On Air Music, Rain’s music video follows an intrepid traveler on a surreal phantasmagoric journey.

“It’s always easy working with Nic because he has a great sense of creativity and can bring a loose concept to life visually. I described the video idea as a character going to bed while it’s raining outside, which then shifts into a sunset dream sequence.”

For Nic, the video’s atmosphere and visual language were central to its construction: “I wanted the video to feel like a slow, drifting journey built around mood, space, and environment rather than a conventional narrative. I was interested in creating a heightened version of reality, using atmosphere and visual motifs like glowing butterflies, floating jellyfish, and empty saturated landscapes to shape the emotion.”

“I’m so happy with the video, it turned out exactly how I hoped,” reflects Jess. “The look, feel, and tone perfectly match the song. I can’t wait for people to see it and appreciate Nic’s amazing work!”

Check out all things deepState below:
Bandcamp
Instagram
Facebook

Photo credit: Frances Carter