There's a strange sense of suspended reality that comes with staying in a hotel; things are familiar yet unknown at the same time, technically stuff belongs to you but only for a brief period of time. Oh and that bottle of Coke in the fridge? Way more expensive than you think it is.
This spirit of freedom and childlike glee runs through Chelsea Jade's "Best Behaviour" video, which takes place predominantly in the confines of a twin hotel room in New York. Jade is joined by director Rose Matafeo, who you may know from her excellent HBO Max rom-com series Starstruck. Together the pair goof around the room, jumping on beds, staging impromptu pillow fights, and improvising dance routines to Jade's vibey and super-catchy new single. “Letʼs party like I donʼt have a part of me to lose / Letʼs party like you donʼt want a part of me,” she sings at one point. The video underlines that same sense of carefree fun.
"I was a bit worried when she got the bike lights out, but overall I felt safe in the hands of an artist like Chelsea Jade," Matafeo said in a statement. "I was semi-confident this video wouldnʼt damage my own career. Catering was good (an array of room temperature Whole Foods goods)." Jade adds: "We trashed a hotel room in the only way we knew how - flicking the light switch on and off really fast."
"Best Behaviour" will feature on Jade's new album Soft Spot, due via Carpark Records on April 29. Listen out closely, you might just be able to spot the vocals of fellow New Zealander Lorde, an old friend of the singer-songwriter, in the background.