Leighton Buzzard creatives collaborate on moving debut single inspired by loss and local landscape
A group of talented artists from the Leighton Buzzard area have come together to create a powerful new music video that draws inspiration from the beauty of the local landscape.
The Darkest Sunrise, the debut release from Bedfordshire-based singer-songwriter Ali Robbins, is set to launch across all streaming platforms on 23 July, with a special live event taking place at The Crooked Crow Bar in Leighton Buzzard on the same date.
The song was written as a tribute to Robbins’ close friend Nicki Jackson (McDermott), who passed away at the end of 2024. Reflecting on grief, the track explores how the presence of a loved one continues after they pass away.
Robbins said that imagery drawn from the natural world was at the heart of the songwriting process, “inspiration came while travelling through the Chiltern Hills, with the surrounding scenery helping to process my emotions and shape the lyrics for the song”.
The track was recorded by Dan James Short, an acclaimed Milton Keynes-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, at his Melonwave studio. Robbins added, “Dan has been incredible to work with, and captured the essence of the song wonderfully”.
The accompanying music video is a showcase of local creative collaboration. Robbins invited Leighton Buzzard-based artist Carmen Carreira to create a beautiful and unique commissioned artwork inspired by the themes of the song. Her artwork, inspired by local wildlife and countryside shaped the visual identity of the release as Robbins explained, “I have admired Carmen’s work for some time. She is an extraordinary talent and has created something truly special for this project”.
The video was directed and produced by Lobke Van Eijk, a local filmmaker and Director of the Buzz Cinema Film Festival. She documented the creation of the artwork at South Side Studios in Leighton Buzzard and recorded a series of live scenes of a sunrise over the town. “I had worked with Lobke on a previous project and knew that her collaborative approach and creative perspective would be perfect” Robbins added, “the end result is something that we are all very proud of and we are looking forward to releasing it”.