We’re thrilled to share another exciting project from our lyric video production team. This time, we had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the talented Canadian artist Chris Sunfield on his captivating song, “Ten Feet High.” Originally from Brantford, Ontario, Chris has resided in Toronto for decades until recently settling in Hamilton, Ontario. “I’m a reinvented recording artist, having spent most of my life doing something else for a living, so I only went commercial with my music in 2020.”
At its core, “Ten Feet High” captures the essence of missed romantic opportunities that resonate with all of us. The singer says, “Ten Feet High is about an adult couple that reunite in a childhood treehouse after not sharing a kiss there when they were young. She never left their hometown. He returns for her mother’s funeral years later. The house is empty and sold. They go up to the treehouse with a bottle of wine for the last time…and that belated kiss. For me, the lyrics represent the many missed romantic opportunities that we’ve all had in life. They also reflect the irony that both love and death are intimate parts of our lives. As an aside, ten feet is an often recommended height for backyard treehouses.“
Chris Sunfield beautifully expresses the yearning and bittersweet emotions associated with reconnecting with a lost love, intertwined with the themes of love and death. The irony of these two intimate aspects of life is brilliantly portrayed through his lyrics. We asked the artist how this song differs from his previous releases and he said, “There hasn’t been much consistency in my singles in terms of genre, but only a couple of them are a little rockier and alternative like this one. It’s also the first time that I planned four songs for an EP with the same lyrical theme – that love is sometimes asleep (as it is in Ten Feet High). The EP, Sleeping Arrows, will be out in late August. Finally, because I’m like a kid in a candy store with the hundreds of virtual instruments that are available to me, I chose only the Vox Continental organ and Synclavier for the four EP songs.“
To enhance the emotional impact of “Ten Feet High,” we opted for a retro aesthetic throughout the lyric video that would transport listeners back to their own memories and experiences. Drawing inspiration from the classic purple, red, orange, and yellow color palette, we aimed to evoke a warm and familiar feeling, reminiscent of bygone eras.
The songwriter explains why he chose a lyric video for this single, “There are many reasons. First, I’ve grown to dislike my appearances in live videos! I’ve overacted in the past and been a ham. Even when I’m doing nothing on-screen, I hate the look on my face sometimes. Also, for this video, although there are all sorts of human references in it, I wanted no one’s face to be seen. I preferred to have people project themselves and their own experiences on the music and imagery.”
The lyric video for “Ten Feet High” is a treasure trove of visual delights, perfectly suited to the song’s nostalgic themes. We carefully curated footage that would transport viewers to a whimsical world, filled with elements that harken back to childhood innocence and forgotten dreams. The central focus of the video revolves around treehouses, symbolizing the sanctuary where the couple’s unfulfilled romance was born. The sight of these elevated structures evokes a sense of adventure and escapism, reminding us of the boundless possibilities we once saw in the world.
Accompanying the treehouses are the majestic trees themselves, standing tall and strong like witnesses to the couple’s journey. Their branches reach out, providing solace and a sense of shelter, mirroring the refuge that the treehouse provided for their childhood aspirations. Adding a touch of whimsy, we integrated vintage toys, further reinforcing the nostalgic theme. These playful objects serve as visual metaphors for the innocence and simplicity of young love, capturing the imaginations of viewers and inviting them to reminisce about their own childhood joys.
We asked Chris what his favourite part of the lyric video is and he said, “I guess the ambient bridge near the end, when you see the cemetery and church images. It’s like a hard stop in terms of everything that came before that. They’re jarring. But the song is juxtaposing love and death. Very different experiences, but both are intimate.“
What’s up next for Chris Sunfield? He says, “I’m releasing new mixes of three previous singles that will also be on the Sleeping Arrows EP for late August. After that, a new single Bicycle Girl in the fall. I’m also writing an EP of songs to be sung by female artists and a full album for next year. I collected 100’s of musical ideas over the years before I started releasing music in 2020 (late in life), so have more ideas than I know what to do with.“
You can listen to Chris Sunfield on Spotify and follow him across all social media platforms HERE
Check out the lyric video for Chris Sunfield’s “Ten Feet High” on YouTube Here: