Grizzly Coast (Alannah Kavanagh) has been sharpening her songwriting, growing her loyal following, and tightening her live show in Toronto’s vibrant live music scene, supporting acts like Fast Romantics and Begonia. Her music successfully blends dreamy guitar rock sensibilities with a trademark thoughtful lyricism.

New single, “Washed,” is a powerful rallying cry against indifference and stagnancy, urging listeners to take control of their lives and reject passivity. Born from a spontaneous and collaborative jam session between Alannah and her husband, Kyle, the track captures the essence of embracing action. The song’s message is a reminder to confront apathy and take control of your life.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically? 

The moment Washed was written, I knew there had to be a video for the track. I chose to make it because I felt the song was strong and I wanted to build a visual world to accompany it in the hopes that it would help the song reach more listeners.

2.What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)? 

First and foremost, we aimed to create a video that would be easy to shoot. To keep it engaging, we decided to use a variety of fun props. Inspired by a nautical color palette with primary colors and preppy outfits, we built the video’s visual narrative around this theme. We wanted to create a specific vibe using classic props like a yellow ladder, mirror, gymnastics ribbons, and balloons to enhance the performance.

3.What was the process of making this video?

We started with a moodboard. My director, Hailey Uens, and I were drawn to imagery from Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic—and we included a homage to the ladder found in the film. Hailey, a stylist, and I had a lot of fun deciding what outfits I should wear. We chose classic and familiar clothes to match the primary color palette of the video, ensuring the outfits aligned with the timeless vibe of the video. Ditto for props.

From there I reached out to the usual suspects to come on board and help us film the thing. We did a location scout and landed on filming at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment plant in the east end. It’s a sprawling piece of land with beach access that remains relatively quiet for the city. We shot the video in one day and had a lot of fun doing so! I made a behind the scenes video to share additional details about the shoot that you can watch here!

Grizzly Coast‘s upcoming LP, Staying Power, – due in the fall of 2024 – is an album that captures the essence of commitment, uncertainty, and the challenges of transition. Written between January 2020 and spring 2023, these songs reflect the pivotal period of Alannah‘s life from ages 25 to 28, a time filled with crucial decisions and transformative experiences. This collection of tracks delves into the journey of taking leaps of faith, developing self-trust, and embracing commitment, all while navigating the uncertainties that come with it.