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“SAFIA have nailed down an inimitable sonic quality that makes their music instantly recognisable (4 stars)” – Rolling Stone

“glistens with pristine pop production while beating with a very human heart underneath” – NME

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Today, SAFIA take viewers on an uninterrupted journey through the surreal landscapes of their third album A Lover’s Guide To A Lucid Dream with the release of their live album performance video Live At First Light, a partnership with Visit Canberra. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Australian wilderness at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, the video showcases the band’s profound connection to their hometown, Canberra.

While writing this album, lead singer Ben Woolner would often hike around the region, the natural surroundings serving as a muse for the project, with the solitude found in these sprawling landscapes leaving an imprint on the composition and creation of the album.

As night descends in Live At First Light, intricate lighting designs accentuate the darkness, echoing the thematic depth of their music. With the dawn, cinematic shots reveal SAFIA amidst the unique landscapes of Canberra, paying homage to their roots and the influence of their surroundings.

‘There was something about performing the album in this way that spoke to us. This album wasn’t easy to make and neither was this expression of it, but both processes felt necessary. Resulting in what I think is a beautiful visual representation of the album narrative’ says the band on the visual experience.

“Canberra has always inspired artists, with our natural environment creating an amazing sense of place,” said Tara Cheyne, Minister for the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.

“This video demonstrates the creativity of Canberra’s arts community, and the deep respect our artists have for our First Nations culture. Tidbinbilla is a beautiful nature reserve and a place of great historical and ongoing significance to the Ngunnawal people.

“VisitCanberra has partnered with SAFIA on this film, which we hope will promote the Canberra region to new audiences, not just in Australia but also throughout the US and into the Asian region – key locations for Canberra tourism.”

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SAFIA acknowledges and respects the Ngunnawal people, consulting with them and conducting a Welcome to Country ceremony before filming.

With their enthralling third album, A Lover’s Guide To A Lucid Dream, SAFIA threw everything into it, going over and over ideas for songs that for some reason simply refused to take shape. After losing perspective – not just about what the next SAFIA record would look like, but even on what they loved about making music in the first place the band realised that the key to unlocking it all was simple: just letting go.

The result is an album that grapples with dreams and reality, the loss and reclamation of identity, which over the course of its 14 tracks moves from surreal night to the soft breaking of the day.

SAFIA have always dreamed big. Since they formed in Canberra 2012 and broke out a year later with the hugely successful single ‘Listen To Soul, Listen To Blues’, the trio of Ben Woolner (vocals/keys), Michael Bell (drums), and Harry Sayers (guitars/keys) have crafted music that stretches imaginations and traverses new sonic landscapes.

Their enthralling 2016 debut Internal and follow-up Story’s Start or End pushed them to huge commercial success. They’ve now amassed more than 200 million streams to their name alongside multiple ARIA Platinum and Gold singles, including for ‘Make Them Wheels Roll’, ‘Embracing Me’, and ‘Starlight’. Having earned a reputation as a phenomenal live act, they’ve graced the stages of some of the biggest global and homegrown festivals – including Groovin The Moo, Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival, and Beyond The Valley – and have sold out tours across the country. Ten years into their career, SAFIA refuse to stop climbing.

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A LOVER’S GUIDE TO A LUCID DREAM – ALBUM OUT NOW
BUY/STREAM HERE

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Follow SAFIA
WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM

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AMNPLIFY – DB