22 January 2013 - 0 Comments

Thomas Coffey is giving something back to the badly shaken City he loves.
http://youtu.be/8cOwTxonLv4

The Christchurch songwriter and his record label Triple A (AllGood Absolute Alternative) are donating profits from Coffey’s new single Tremendous Heart to Christchurch non-profit organisation MHAPS, which offers Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support and has been particularly active helping residents deal with post earthquake trauma.

“Christchurch is still in recovery mode,” says MHAPS general manager Sue Ricketts. “Not just in terms of rebuilding the City but, just as importantly, in terms of how people are dealing with the trauma of the events and their ongoing effects on their lives.”

“The anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake of February 22, 2010 is going to be a trigger point for a lot of people. They will relive the memory in different ways. Some will relive it in a way they perceive rather than actually happened. So anything that can raise people’s spirits and help them look up and stand tall instead of looking back is hugely positive. That’s why we are so delighted to be associated with Thomas and Tremendous Heart. It’s a brilliant song. It talks to everybody and speaks about, something that we, as an organisation, are passionate about – helping people resume the life they want to lead.”

The video for Tremendous Heart was shot on location in Christchurch in the Falsgrave tunnel near the damaged AMI Stadium.

“I saw it and I immediately thought light at the end of the tunnel,” Cofffey says. The song talks about the effects of both major earthquakes but predominantly it is about hope.”

With the right location sorted, Coffey set about networking among his local friends to bring to fruition his idea for the video.

“I have a friend, David Jensen, who is a teacher at St Andrews College and agreed to be the director of photography,” Coffey says. “He runs the media course at the college and arranged for half a dozen of his pupils to come down and help out with the lighting.”

The video was shot in the 157 metre tunnel. Many of the props were donated including a 1000 litre water tanker, LED lighting from Hangup Entertainment and 185 paper bags sold at cost by Michelle of Ambience and filled with a total of 555 tea light candles.

Tremendous Heart also features the roller derby girls from the Living Dead B team, which competes in the Christchurch Dead End Derby.

“Again, I knew one of the girls and in exchange for them agreeing to be a part of the video, I played during the halftime break of one of their games.”

The unofficial video debut of Tremendous Heart will be held at No 4 bar in Christchurch. “It’s an invite only event,” Coffey says. “It’s my way of saying thanks to the cast and crew."

Tremendous Heart, the single, is released on Triple A on the anniversary day of February 22 a date etched in the memories of everyone living in Christchurch.

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