Premiere: i.e. crazy Shares Video For 'Wetlands' + Announces New Album 'Country Justice'

The sonically fearless project of Tāmaki Makaurau musician / writer / sound designer Frances Libeau, i.e. crazy has announced the imminent release of Country Justice, the artist's first new studio long player since 2017's standout Non Compos Mentis. Heralding their long-awaited record is a new self-directed video for 'Wetlands' which we're proud to premiere here this morning. Examining themes that have certainly been amplified in local media since the song emerged last July, the video for 'Wetlands' layers distressed VHS footage filmed by Libeau and Selina Ershadi around Te Wai Ōrea (Western Springs Lakes) — wallowing in boggy textures and peering into slithery depths, as i.e. crazy reflects on the state of Aotearoa's roadside marsh-scapes.

Composer of the soundtrack for 2021’s Fiona Clark: Unafraid documentary (among numerous recent works for art, film and theatre), Libeau's forthcoming new record was mastered and mixed by James Goldsmith, featuring contributions from Imogen Taylor (who plays flute on 'Wetlands'), Cello Forrester (Womb, CRUSH), Nisha Madhan, Abigail Aroha Jensen, and the late Angus Zoë Tahere Hayes. The digital release of Country Justice on 20th July will be accompanied by a limited series of fine art prints titled HEADLESS, made in collaboration with PICTVRE and Crystal Lim, plus a long-sleeved t-shirt featuring a print by Abigail Aroha Jensen — scroll downwards for more details [preorders HERE]. An artist who rarely performs live, i.e. crazy is playing a partially seated album launch event for Country Justice at The Wine Cellar, with special guests and an opening set by Hasji (Noa Records, Community Garden). Attendees are advised to note i.e. crazy's following content warning...

"Certain elements of the i.e. crazy set explore the representation of gender-based violence in NZ's media & social imagination. There will be a couple of brief references to historic media narratives covering stories of gender-based violence & suicide that are, in some cases, specific to Aotearoa. They are not prolonged or (by our read) gratuitous & we hope serve to highlight issues that pervade this country's culture of violence, rather than exploit them.

Verbal and visual warning of this content will be given before the show commences. While we will do our best to guide you safely through the set, you are welcome to leave at anytime. A selection of contacts for crisis support services is listed at the end of this press release & will also be available at the door of the show. If you or someone you know would like assistance in contacting these services or getting home safely, please reach out either to the performer, the person at the door, or someone you trust."

i.e. crazy - Country Justice - Release Show w/ Hasji
Saturday 22nd July - The Wine Cellar, Auckland
Earlybird tickets available HERE via UTR

This show will be partially seated. The venue is wheelchair accessible. For wheelchair access please contact the venue or artist at franceslibeau@gmail.com

Accompanying a digital release of Country Justice are a very limited set of three fine art prints, titled HEADLESS, taken in collaboration with creative house PICTVRE & styled by Crystal Lim. The series is sold exclusively as a trio.

A fourth print, SHE WAS JUST DOING HER JOB is available to purchase as a single object. All are stamped and signed with their edition number & will not be reprinted.

A print by Abigail Aroha Jensen, THIS WRETCHED PLACE, is available on a long-sleeved t-shirt in two cuts, again in very limited numbers. All merchandise is available for pre-order now on Bandcamp HERE, and each item includes a full download of Country Justice upon its release.

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