Local spots back up band's clip

Former Whanganui High School students' Ethan Smith (left), Baz Muir and Dylan Thorby-Reid, of NLC, at Whanganui music video location Virginia Lake.
PHOTO / Stuart Munro

A music video by Whanganui reggae band NLC is getting a lot of love online this month and songwriter Baz Muir is thrilled about it.

Muir is the founder, lead singer and guitarist of NLC (No Limits Crew), a pool of musicians who first got together in Whanganui six years ago but now live in different cities.

"We come together to play live but this latest recording is just me," he says.

Say Goodbye was filmed around Whanganui at Kowhai Park, Virginia Lake and Castlecliff Beach and features aspiring young actor Ethan Smith.

Filmed and edited by Muir and his partner Rita Phillips, the video is a mini-movie of love going wrong and coming right again. Muir's sister Mitch plays Smith's love interest.

It is one of a dozen NLC videos on YouTube and each one tells a story.

Dylan Thorby-Reid was recruited for Love Not War and says the experience gave him a "massive confidence boost."

"I had to run towards the camera and get shot.

"I really hurt my back when I landed but it was such a good experience."

Muir says he enjoys giving young people opportunities to shine and seeing their confidence grow.

"Sometimes I want to deliver messages with my songs and others are about love for whanau and friends," he says.

NLC is a whanau affair. Muir's adult daughter Shaye is a band member as well as a solo performer.

Muir and Phillips have a baby daughter Sharlisa, who appears in the Say Goodbyevideo.

The band were finalists in the 2017 Waiata Maori Music Awards and were nominated for the Best Maori Urban Roots/Reggae Album award for their second album Love not War.

"It will be nice if we get nominated again this year," says Muir.

"The ceremony in Hastings last year was an awesome event."

Say Goodbye is to be included on NLC's third album which Muir says he has not yet named.

By Liz Wylie
Wanganui Chronicle 26/5/18