Louise Carver offers an intimate look behind life on the road
Award-winning singer-songwriter Louise Carver invites audiences into the deep personal world behind the spotlight with the release of the music video for her latest single, My Love – a nostalgic, heartfelt glimpse into the realities, relationships and quiet moments that shape life as a touring artist.
Directed by Jiten Ramial, the video captures something Louise has never explored before in visual form: the in-between spaces of performance. The road trips, backstage nerves, shared silences, post-show laughter, studio sessions, trusted friendships and the emotional rhythm of creating and performing music.
“I’ve never released a music video that truly captures what it feels like to be a touring artist,” says Louise. “People see the glamour of standing on stage, but there are all these little moments in between – the conversations with your band, the anxiety before walking on stage, the relief afterwards, the laughter backstage, the quietness the next morning. I wanted to show all of it.”
The idea for the video came naturally when Louise was booked to perform on the main stage at the iconic Splashy Fen Music Festival in the Drakensberg for the very first time – a significant career milestone and the perfect opportunity to document the emotional and logistical realities behind live performance.
“Every detail matters,” Louise explains. “The dress I choose, the songs we decide to play, the preparation, the energy backstage, even the drive there. I realised Splashy Fen would be the perfect backdrop to capture all the elements that go into being a live performer.”
Shot with Ramial’s signature fast-paced, storytelling style, the video blends lifestyle footage with live performance to create an intimate, documentary-style portrait of Louise’s world. Having collaborated on a few projects before, Louise says their creative shorthand made the process relaxing, as trust had already been established.
“I love the way Jiten shoots,” she says. “There’s a pace and honesty to the way he tells stories. He captures things that feel lived-in and real.”
An unexpected but fitting co-star in the story is Leapmotor, who partnered with Louise for the journey to Underberg, providing a vehicle for the road trip from Joburg to Splashy Fen.
“When you tour, the car matters more than people realise,” says Louise. “You need space, comfort, fuel efficiency – something that can handle the realities of the road. Leapmotor really came through for us.”
But beyond showcasing the excitement of festival performance, Louise wanted to reveal the less glamorous and deeply human side of life on tour.
“I wanted to show the morning after the show too,” she says. “Coming down from such a high, unpacking rubbish from the car, repacking gear so nothing rattles on the drive home, feeling a little quiet or grumpy after all the excitement. Those moments are real too.”
At the emotional heart of My Love is Louise’s long-standing musical relationship with guitarist, collaborator and producer Simz Kulla, whom she affectionately describes as her “ride or die.”
“We travel everywhere together,” she says. “He’s not only my guitarist and sometimes producer — we have our own language on stage and on the road. There’s a huge amount of trust between us and knowing we always have each other’s backs is everything.”
The video also features acclaimed drummer Denholm Harding, (a member of Just Jinjer, session musician and producer) who Louise deeply admires.
“Denholm’s playing is truly special,” says Louise. “But beyond that, he’s such a good human and incredibly funny. Over the years I’ve learnt that who you choose to have on your team matters more than anything.”
Also featured is Louise’s longtime publicist Melissa Conradie, alongside friends and musicians who surrounded her backstage at Splashy Fen, adding to the genuine warmth and emotional honesty of the film.
The music video also opens a window into another side of Louise’s creative world: the recording studio.
Viewers are taken inside sessions at Audio Militia, where Louise has built a close creative bond with Garrick Jones and Simz Kulla while making recent work, including her acclaimed album Dark Secrets.
“Audio Militia has played such an important role in my life and music, especially around my recent SAMA win,” says Louise.
For Louise, My Love is a love letter to the people, places and moments that have shaped her journey as an artist.
“It’s a video I’m incredibly proud of because it shows a real slice of my life,” she says. “When I look around at the people in it and the adventures we’re having together, I like what I see. It reminds me that I’m genuinely enjoying the journey.”
Watch the My Love here.
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