Synopsis

Mulholland performs "Cry If You Want To" in a constantly shifting psychedelic environment. His performance is surrounded by pulsing colors, kaleidoscopic patterns, animated drawings, clouds, and layered visual textures. Rapid cuts keep pace with the song while the singer and instrumentalist appear to multiply, distort, and merge with the surrounding imagery. Rather than presenting a narrative, the video turns the track into an immersive audiovisual experience, using rhythm, color, and repetition to reflect the song's energetic, multi-layered character.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was made for Mulholland's 2014 album "Stop And Start Again," with "Cry If You Want To" released as the album's first single in June 2014.

• Mulholland is the stage name of New Zealand musician Jolyon Mulholland, known for his work as a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer.

• The production was supported by NZ On Air and was created as an official music video for the New Zealand release.

• The visual approach was deliberately centered on execution rather than a detailed narrative concept. Mulholland gave the filmmaker freedom to build on an earlier psychedelic visual experiment.

• Green-screen footage formed the basis of the performance imagery. Careful lighting and camera setup made the keying process easier during post-production.

• The effects were assembled in Adobe After Effects from stop-motion drawings, kaleidoscopic cloud imagery, and sound-reactive experiments. Additional cloud material was supplied by Greg Hodgson.

• Post-production took approximately two weeks: one week for editing and keying, followed by a second week devoted to the visual effects.

• The footage was shot on a Canon 5D Mark III.

• The video was included in the 2014 "Listen Up" screening program, which presented music videos and short films from New Zealand.