Bringing ‘Love Me’ to Life in an MV
When choosing how to tell this story, I wanted those feelings of being lost, lonely and needing comfort to be really poignant from the start of the video. The first scene played in my mind as I listened and re listened to the first verse. What came to mind was the image of a young woman, upset, trying to find her way home whilst cycling down some suburban roads. My next thought was, ‘what will drive the story forward from there?’
That’s when a quote, from a book I read some years ago, popped into my head. I can’t remember the name of the book unfortunately, but it was about a really unhealthy relationship, and the main character described it as something like ‘having a doll that comforts you in the best and worst of times. A doll that comes to mean so much to you, that even when it starts to grow spikes and hurts you, you still hold onto it, believing it will comfort you like it did before.’ Something about it really hit me. Of course, the line in the book was written more eloquently I’m sure, but it stuck with me all these years. And it was what I thought of when I thought about how to best tell this story of this young woman who was so lost and alone. This young woman who would find comfort in someone, only to lose it in them too. Because ultimately, this story, is about finding love in yourself. The story needed to end with that message. But throughout the middle of the story, it was important to me to show the effects of a hurtful relationship. After all, the songs lyrics are very much a reflection of my own experiences with bad relationships (mostly friendships), that, thought started with kindness, comfort and a belief that I was special to these people, were in fact woven with manipulation, belittlement and hurtful words that destroyed my self confidence in every way.
Therefore, I believed this story needed to show how these relationships can start, how they can turn and how they can end. Most importantly, that a story like this can in fact end with the main character finding love, comfort and kindness (genuinely) within herself. So, with that book quote I mentioned earlier and, this idea in mind, the little teddy bear became a character in the story.
I was lucky enough to find an amazing illustrator/animator on ‘fiverr’ called Animator E and together we brought the story to life. Before reaching out, I created a storyboard which, actually began as a real-life storyboard. Originally, I had intended to make and film the MV myself but the more I thought about the story and how I wanted it to unfold, the more I leaned towards an animated format.
‘Love Me’, as a song, is very vulnerable I think. I wanted the MV to encompass that vulnerability too. The girl, who I called Liah in my head, (if you can guess the inspiration for the name, lots of hearts to you) starts her journey lost and alone. She finds comfort in a little teddy bear for some time. And she thinks she feels happy with that. But as the little bear begins to grow spikes and she feels pain from holding onto it, she not only finds herself lost and alone again, but I think she realises she was never truly over those feelings to begin with. Liah never resolved those feelings from before. She simply covered them up with newfound feelings that came from something else. When she looks at herself and sees the hurt that’s really there, she finds the courage to leave and go out looking for the home she never got to before. However, this time she leaves the bike and takes a different route. This was, in my mind, to represent what real life is like - that you can’t go back and do things again, you can only go forward and in doing that, you have to find new, different ways to get to where you want or need to be…I hope that makes sense.
I liked the idea of the ending showing Liah opening a new door in some way, and that opening that door, leads to the wounds she has healing. The blood on her shirt all comes together in a heart which I hoped show how all this bad didn’t have to remain as this horrible mark on her, it could instead, turn into something that, yes is in her heart, but it’s not all over her anymore. And a heart, even with trauma, is still a heart. It still represents love and life and I wanted it to leave a feeling of hope to you watching it. So I really hope that it did. I hope this MV tells the story in a way you can take what you need from it. And I’m so happy with the way Animator E brought the storyboard I had to life.
More than anything, I hope (sorry to keep. using that same word :/) that you left the video feeling like you can move forward one day if you’re hurting right now and like you will eventually be okay. I’d love to hear your thoughts anyway and if you’re going through something difficult, I’ve left a list of helplines that I hope can support you. Just remember, you are strong and you are brave and there is so much love for you exactly as you are.. You have to be scared to be brave, keep that in mind. I’m wishing so much love and lightness for you all. Thank you! xx