New Video: Melbourne’s Ella Thompson Shares Broodingly Cinematic “Let There Be Nothing”

Ella Thompson is a rising Melbourne-based singer/songwriter. And with her backing band, which sometimes features members of Surprise Chef and some of her favorite local players, Thompson and her band pair cinematic textures and arrangements seemingly inspired by The Shangri-La‘s, Renee Geyer, Thee Sacred Souls, Baby Rose, Back to Black-era Amy Winehouse and others with her effortlessly soulful, clear as a bell-like delivery. Lyrically, Thompson’s songwriting draws from poetry, philosophy and personal experience.

Thompson’s latest single, the Thompson, Liam McGorry and Henry Jenkins co-produced “Let There Be Nothing” features a backing of some of Melbourne’s best players on a broodingly cinematic arrangement that sounds like a synthesis of film soundtrack and classic Daptone Records.

“Let There Be Nothing” is a song about leaving your lover, and an inspired reimagining of a scenario that came up in The Sopranos: Thompson wrote the song, inspired by seeing Carmela Soprano battle with the decision to leave Tony, and to start her life again. Choosing to leave her mob boss husband directly challenges the patriarchal establishment she has existed in and has known since birth. But it also requires a complete and thorough break and remake of her identity, which is deeply intertwined with the oppressive structures she has known her entire life. In the song, Thompson envisions Carmela leaving Tony and the morally ambiguous life he offers, and instead sees her finding resilience and freedom in the novel in the unfamiliar. As Thompson says the song is “about accepting something for what it is, without trying to change or fix it — and then making the choices you need to make. That moment is difficult, but on the other side is freedom.”

The Nick McKinley and Thompson co-directed video for “Let There Be Nothing” is a gorgeously shot and highly symbolic visual: The dominoes are meant to represent the interdependent structures of patriarchy, racism and capitalism. And as a result, the video asks the viewer to consider how these structures impact our choices and what we’re willing to sacrifice. But it also suggests that our world as we know it, needs an overhaul for everyone to truly be free.