With summer nearly here in the Northern Hemisphere, shiny indie-pop with earworm choruses and dance-worthy beats are once more hitting the airwaves, including the latest single from New Zealand’s Alae.  

Originally released on New Zealand and Australian airwaves in February, Alae’s latest indie-pop single, Summer Thing, is finally getting an international release. Snappy percussion and bright, summery synths guide the track to its infectious, danceable refrain. Frontman Alex Farrell-Davey’s tasty vocals fluctuate between rich middle octaves and his stunning upper range. They bring even more coolness to an already charismatic tune. Summer Thing is so catchy that “it’s going to make even goths want to dance on the beach.”

Farrell-Davey described the meaning behind the song:

This song is about finding someone so perfect that they feel like summer. It’s about someone who just feels good to be around – it’s as though it’s summer forever when you’re with them.

Through a fun dance number featuring monochromatic goths on a brightly coloured beach, the video for Summer Thing boils down to a quirky, gothic mating ritual on the beach. It blends both the black and white feelings outlined in the lyrics with the perfect setting for a summer smash hit. It is one video that you don’t want to click away from. The dancing is impeccable for someone stomping around in heavy boots on a sandy beach and the concept perfectly fits the vibe of the song.

On the concept for the video, Ian Sweeney – one half of the directorial duo, Vision Thing – explained:

This song is so catchy we’re pretty sure it’s going make even goths want to dance on the beach. So that’s the idea we pitched to the band: a male goth trying to win over a female goth with a sick song and some slick moves. We’re really proud of this video.