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Boy band singer shoots music video at nan's house

Matt WeigoldDerby
News imageBBC Five young men sit in a dated living room, two of whom are holding guitars and two hold mugs of tea. The man on the left is holding a black electric guitar, has short curly hair and is wearing a brown long-sleeved top and blue jeans. Next to him is a man in a blue polo shirt and blue jeans holding a white mug. A man with black hair, blue jeans, sand hoodie and sand t-shirt is playing a brown acoustic guitar. To the right of him, sat slightly higher on the arm of a brown settee, is a man holding a white mug with black cornrows, a white t-shirt, blue denim jacket and green trousers. Sat on the settee to his right is a man with long fair hair, a blue shirt and a black jumper. Behind the men is a large black fireplace covered in ornaments in front of a mirror. There is also a brown antique desk with a clock next to a window.BBC
Absnt Mind filmed the video for their new single 'Allestree Lane' on the street in Derby

A singer-songwriter, whose band has toured with Olly Murs and the Sugababes, returned to his roots to film the video for his new single in his nan's front room.

Absnt Mind's latest release 'Allestree Lane' is about Derby-born Freddie Meyer, 19, moving out of his family home on the same street as his grandmother.

Before filming got under way, Meyer and his bandmates visited his former secondary school, where the quintet took questions from music students.

"I always love coming back to Derby. It's my home. It's my people," Meyer said.

News imageA young man is sat on a grey bedspread with a gold headboard whilst being filmed. The man has short dark hair, a blue polo shirt, blue jeans and is holding his thumbs up. A grey laptop and VR headset sit on his bed. The walls are grey with a large window and peach curtains. A man with long fair hair is in the foreground checking the video camera filming the man on the bed.
Freddie Meyer said he loved coming back to Derby

The 19-year-old appeared on the BBC's The Voice Kids before joining the music group in 2023, with four other band members enlisted from across the UK.

The band, who write their own music, performed with Mariah Carey at Brighton Pride last year.

'Allestree Lane' is based on Meyer's experience of leaving Derby aged 17 to join the band in London, but he said everyone can relate to the themes of the lyrics.

"That whole experience was quite emotional for me and my family. To be able to write this song is so personal to me," said Meyer.

He said his nan was not home for the filming but added: "When she watches the video, she'll absolutely love it."

Absnt Mind's influences include Prince, Bruno Mars and The 1975, so enlisting the writing support of The 1975's Jamie Squire on this latest track was a huge honour, the band said.

Mixing with the stars has not affected Meyer though, who rolled up his sleeves to paint his grandma's bedroom in preparation for filming the music video.

"We didn't vandalise anything," he insisted, "It's for a lyric," referring to the grey walls mentioned in the song.

'Full circle moment'

Meyer, who was born in his Allestree Lane home, said he was excited to return to the city.

"I always love coming back to Derby. It's my home. It's my people," he said.

Meyer said returning to his old music classroom at his former school Allestree Woodlands was a "full circle moment" and praised the staff who supported him to build a music career.

"The teachers are honestly so supportive. They believed in me, my music journey and I had the best teenage years here at this school.

"I'm so grateful to have been in such a supportive community," he added.

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