The music video "Seaside" by Haux demonstrates several characteristics of the indie folk genre. It tells a narrative story through symbolic imagery that relates to the emotional lyrics. Shots alternate between soft blur and sharp focus to set a dreamlike mood. As an independent artist, Haux develops conventions like clothing styles consistent with indie folk. The cinematography and pacing match the song's tone through techniques like long takes and close-ups of the female protagonist that represent her as part of nature's beauty rather than in a sexualized way.

1. Music Video Analysis
By Ben Anderson

2. Goodwin’s key 6 features
1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics e.g. dance routine for boy/girl
band
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals meaning that the lyrics are
represented with images
3. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the
artist and the artist may develop key aspects which reoccur across their work
5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens,
mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body
6. There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music
videos etc).

3. Applying feature 1: Music videos demonstrate genre
characteristics
The genre of indie folk has key genre characteristics that when reviewing a music
video you as the audience are able to interact with and see.
Such characteristics are those of the instruments used in the music such as for
example there is often a use of the acoustic guitar, piano, drums as well as often
found in recent times more contemporary instruments that are replicated by a
computer.
Usually with indie folk music videos they tend to combine the narrative as well as
the performance into a music video in order so that it engages the audience

4. Applying feature 1: Music videos demonstrate genre
characteristics
The music video “Seaside” by Haux is that of a narrative music video with it.This is a rather unusual music video
as often there is a combination of two elements such as narrative and performance to a music video.
The lyrics and the narrative of the video fit in supposedly representing this idea that life is a valuable thing and
that we need to take control even if it going into the unknown and living life to the fullest with even the small
things that can make a big difference in your life. This idea of the narrative having a rather emotional component
to it is very common in the genre of indie folk and the linked songs.
Here are 3 screenshots taken from the music video. Here you can see the different shots that have been used to
present this narrative in the music video and to affect the audience by enhancing how this emotion comes
across and is able to be interacted with.

5. Applying feature 2:There is a relationship between lyrics and
visuals meaning that the lyrics are represented with images
The music video “seaside” by Haux has clear links between the lyrics
and the visuals. Whilst these links between the two tend to be not as
obvious when compared to music videos from genres such as hip hop
with words physically appearing on the screen they are lot more
symbolic helping match this tone of emotion in the song.
The lyrics in the song describe this idea of becoming free and having
full control of our lives. In practise this would be hard to show in a
physical way unless there is a clichéd use of people in an open top car
driving away but the genre of indie folk is different and doesn’t
conform to the usual conventions found in certain other genres.

6. Applying feature 2:There is a relationship between lyrics and
visuals meaning that the lyrics are represented with images
The song’s lyrics is written about life and how it needs to change but has used
metaphors to present this idea that the seaside represents life and how it is ever
changing but provokes the audience to think this rather than just stating it.
Here is a screenshot that shows the link
between the lyrics and the visuals. The lyric in
question in the part of the music video is the
line of “run until our lungs cave in". As we hear
the lyrics we see the sand running through her
fingers and as the sand leaves her hands she
curls her fingers in showing this symbolic view
of the caving in of the lungs.

7. Applying feature 3:The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that
of the music
The music video “seaside” by Haux as commonly seen in the genre of indie
folk conveys this idea of realism and raw emotion to the audience.
Throughout the video most noticeably is the use of the contrasting shots
following each other as we have one edited with a soft blur and the other
completely in focus. This creates the mood of exploration and almost making
it all seem like a happy dream that never happens.
In result of this, there is an obvious link between the aesthetics and the song
having this sense and suggesting that being in control and free of the
restraints of life is just a dream not a reality.Furthermore this matches the
narrative side of the music video. This is because the woman is always shown
in the soft blur showing her happy and carefree is part of a stimulated reality.

8. Applying feature 3:The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that
of the music
As mentioned earlier throughout the music video there are contrasting shots with soft
blur shots being immediately followed by those that are sharply in focus.

9. Applying feature 4:The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of
close ups of the artist and the artist may develop key aspects which reoccur across
their work
Haux like most in the indie folk genre are independent artists meaning
that he doesn’t have a music label to meet the demands of. However
he does apply and use commonly found conventions of the indie folk
genre to appeal and present the music of indie folk genre.
Haux has shown these conventions in the following ways;He uses
clothing commonly found in this genre worn by bands and artists.He
also incorporates symbolic messages in the video similar to other
videos from this genre.

10. Applying feature 5:There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within
screens, mirrors, stages, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female
body
In the music video “seaside” by Haux, there is a wide range of shots of the female
body that allows the audience voyeuristic treatment of the female body as well as
making them focus on certain aspects.
These various shots of the woman in the music video are not intended for the
audience to have this sexualised and objectified voyeuristic treatment of women
but rather to see women as part of natures beauty, for women to be appreciated
as equals as men.

11. Applying feature 6:There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV
programmes, other music videos etc.)
When watching the whole music video through multiple times I have found that in this case of “seaside”
by Haux there isn’t a intertextual reference to films, TV programmes ect that I am able to see and interact
with.

12. Goodwin also has 5 ways to analyse a music video
1. Thought through beat (seeing what the lyrics mean in your head)
2. Relationship between the song and Visuals
3. Narrative and performance of the song
4. Technical aspect of a music video
5. Star Image (protagonist), lots of camera shots making him/her the Centre of
attention

13. When analysing the music video, the construction of music video is that of a slow and
steady pace having a direct correlation with the song. The editing with the use of long takes
as well as the close ups of the woman dancing helping to convey the emotion through the
lyrics. The artist Haux has a echoing and haunting voice that is very original and attributes to
the trademark profile of this artist.
Analysis 1: Thought through beat (seeing what the lyrics mean in your head)
Analysis 2: Relationship between the song and Visuals
The symbolic references throughout the music video, helps the message and the effect of this
message come across to the audience throughout consistently drumming it in making the song
and the attached music video having repeatability.

14. Analysis 3: Narrative and performance of the song
Analysis 4: Technical aspect of a music video
Analysis 5: Star Image (protagonist), lots of camera shots making him/her the
Centre of attention
With the music video, there is a clear although symbolic link between the song and the
visuals. Whilst it isn’t a performance based video but rather a narrative one, there is a
repeated reference to the seaside linked directly with the lyrics.
The music video is edited to match the speed of the song as well as it using the technical
element of mis-en-scene to match the song to the visual; this has been dones
through the use of location (seaside/forest), lighting (very sunny) as well as the costume
codes used.
Whilst the music video doesn’t star the artist their key attributes are represented
throughout. The use of stereotypical costumes such as the jacket and jeans on the male
protagonist confirms to the audience the view of indie folk as well as using a variety of
landscape shots, a common theme running through his album and the music videos.