24 year old twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy, who perform as Ward Thomas, have released the video for their latest single, ‘No Filter’. The song is taken from their eagerly anticipated forthcoming album, ‘Restless Minds’, set for release on February 8, through WTW Music/Sony Music.
The compelling video draws on wider themes addressed in the new album, and examines what “the truth” means in 2019, with society’s pressure put on people to conform.
In the frame of a group therapy setting, we see Catherine and Lizzy, along with three others, all of whom are silently carrying their own burdens, while being visibly insecure.
Speaking of the track, the sisters say,
“For us, the core message in this song is to learn to accept who we are and to embrace every aspect of ourselves. In a world where we are tempted to cloak our lives in a filter online, we wanted to challenge that culture with real and unfiltered experiences that many of us have witnessed”.
About the video they explained,
“We all struggle with something – whether it’s our weight, our appearance, our sexuality or anything that might be regarded as ‘abnormal’ in the eyes of some parts of culture. We see young people growing up in this world where it often feels like we are judged on our external achievements or our looks and where people can be so unkind when they have a keyboard to hide behind. So learning to accept ourselves and be happy in our own skin has become harder than ever.”
The clip contains footage of an emotional backstory, with vignettes which dig deeply into the personal lives of the characters, showing what they’ve gone through. They are no longer constrained by their need to hide behind a filter, and as the façade is removed from each person they are finally able to express themselves truthfully. Ward Thomas added,
“we wanted it to represent how exhilarating letting go can be and to show that although self-acceptance can be a difficult journey we are better off if we are honest and strip away the filters”.
The clip – and song – is a very powerful reminder that we are all individuals with the right to show our true faces. It’s truly one that anyone living in the 21st Century can relate to.
Ward Thomas will be touring in support of their album, which was written in Nashville, London, and Hampshire, alongside previous collaborators Jessica Sharman, Rebekah Powell and Martin Terefe (Shawn Mendes), in addition to Ed Drewitt (Little Mix), Rachel Furner (Craig David) and Steve Robson (Paloma Faith). The album was produced in London by Martin Terefe and Joe Rubel (Ed Sheeran).
Concert dates for Ward Thomas are below. See their official website for further details.
February 2019 (w/ support from The Wandering Hearts)
Sun 24th BEXHILL, De La Warr Pavilion
Mon 25th YORK, Barbican
Tues 26th GUILDFORD, G-Live
Wed 28th BRISTOL, O2 Academy
March 2019
Fri 1st CAMBRIDGE, Junction
Sat 2nd NORWICH, Open
Mon 4th CARDIFF, St David’s
Tues 5th LEICESTER, De Montfort Hall
Wed 6th MANCHESTER, Albert Hall
April 2019
Mon 1st BIRMINGHAM Institute
Tues 2nd SOUTHAMPTON, O2 Guildhall
Wed 3rd LONDON, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Fri 5th GLASGOW, SWG3
Sat 6th GATESHEAD, Sage
Sun 24th BEXHILL, De La Warr Pavilion
Mon 25th YORK, Barbican
Tues 26th GUILDFORD, G-Live
Wed 28th BRISTOL, O2 Academy
March 2019
Fri 1st CAMBRIDGE, Junction
Sat 2nd NORWICH, Open
Mon 4th CARDIFF, St David’s
Tues 5th LEICESTER, De Montfort Hall
Wed 6th MANCHESTER, Albert Hall
April 2019
Mon 1st BIRMINGHAM Institute
Tues 2nd SOUTHAMPTON, O2 Guildhall
Wed 3rd LONDON, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Fri 5th GLASGOW, SWG3
Sat 6th GATESHEAD, Sage
