Music Industry News

Pōneke-based indie star Goodnight My Darling (Maxine Macaulay) has today shared a mesmerizing music video to accompany her most recent single ‘Ruby’.

The track – a tender reflection on creative repression, motherhood and female empowerment – has unsurprisingly seen love from across Aotearoa – notably being a resident in the Radioscope alt chart for 6 weeks in a row. ‘Ruby’ was written after the Black Ferns epic 2022 Rugby World Cup win, and the new music video continues to celebrate our wāhine toa – this time, platforming the Wellington Synchro team!

“The video was a true collaboration,” says director Belle Gwilliam. “I had ideas for the look, like specific camera angles and a unique colour scheme, and Maxine had a certain style in mind – but the choreography was all the Synchro girls; Amelia Livingston and Justine Carter really led the way.”

Impressive underwater filming was achieved alongside Kristine Zipfel, adding what Belle describes as an ‘extra layer of magic’ to the sport and artform. The music video displays passionate people doing what they love, as a team, and is a process and product emblematic of what inspired ‘Ruby’.

‘Ruby’ follows Goodnight My Darling’s celebrated performance at CubaDupa earlier this year; her 2023 single ‘Empress’, and her 2022 self-titled debut album. Amidst all this, the artist has embarked on a new journey this year – motherhood – a theme beautifully unpacked in ‘Ruby’.

With the widespread aroha of ‘Ruby’ and today’s inspiring reflection on uplifting Aotearoa women, now is the perfect time to dive into the world of Goodnight My Darling!

Check out all things Goodnight My Darling below:
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Her work is contemplative, cleverly crafted and soul-stirring. An impressive songwriter, producer and vocalist. Her artistic endeavours began from a young age, singing for Kapiti-based bands, choirs and learning to play trumpet, taught by her grandfather who was a conductor and musician in the New Zealand National Band. In 2018 Maxine was one of the first graduates from Massey University’s Bachelor of Commercial Music in Wellington. Her debut self-titled album was written during a seven-month lockdown in Berlin, early 2021 and was released December 2022. It is a mix of soul-stirring tunes including ‘The Carriage’, ‘Until I Return’ and ‘The Trees Have Eyes’. Inspirations include Angel Olsen, Nadia Reid and 90’s shoegaze. Maxine says her ever evolving vibe is a poetic expression of her life and the places around her. Her songs take you on a cinematic journey, while her ethereal vocals lull you into a quiet sense of peace and appreciation. Goodnight My Darling is a wondrous, immersive and cinematic experience.

Artwork credit: Gwilled Cheese