Scary: Children Collide made its debut on Halloween five years ago.
ERIN PEARSON
RECORDING Children Collide’s new music video left little room for modesty, according to front man Johnny Mackay.
The singer and guitarist parted with his formerly long-blonde hair and donned face paint for the emotive shoot to back Loveless, the band’s latest single.
Mackay said the concept for the video came to him “in a dream”.
“My hair wasn’t keeping me warm much anyway but it did take me a while to get used to it,” he laughed.
“I went from long hair to no hair in the clip, which also has me wearing clown makeup.
“I had reservations about it in the beginning but it’s turned out really well. It’s all about feeling loveless.”
Melbourne-based Children Collide played its first gig on Halloween (31 October) of 2006.
Two years later its debut album, The Long Now, featured on Triple J radio. A few months later the tracks were featuring on Friday night football broadcasts and on video games.
The band’s second album, Theory of Everything, hit number five on the ARIA charts on debut in 2010.
Children Collide have also found a place on the Australian festival circuit alongside acts such as Hilltop Hoods, Eskimo Joe and The Butterfly Effect.
Mackay said Children Collide’s popularity had progressed considerably since the three-piece band first stepped out on stage in front of a handful of people.
“It’s been small steps every day but we’re seeing the rewards now,” he said.
“We’ve been through a lot internally and personally, too, so I don’t think that much can stop us now.
“I could have a real job but I’m glad this is my job.”
Children Collide plays The Bended Elbow this Friday.
