Musical tribute ... G.R.L. broke down on the set of the Lighthouse video shoot after they had finished recording the song. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
AMERICAN girl group G.R.L. have paid a musical tribute to Simone Battle four months after her death with an emotional ballad.
They reveal the Lighthouse single and video today as the four remaining members of G.R.L. admit they are still struggling to come to terms with Battle’s suicide.
The 25-year-old singer shocked her band mates and fans when took her life in September.
Lauren Bennett, Paula Van Oppen, Emmalyn Estrada and Natasha Slayton have been undergoing group therapy to cope with their grief.
In the wake of Battle’s death, all four girls said they had asked themselves what they could have done to help her.
“I felt like my world had fallen apart when it happened,” Estrada said.
“It hurts me so much to know we couldn’t help her deal with the pain.”
They decided to record Lighthouse not only in the memory of their friend but to also to encourage those battling depression or other mental illness to reach out to loved ones.
LOST SINGER: G.R.L. singer Simone Battle took her own life
Happier days ... G.R.L. won thousands of Australian fans during their promo tout for Ugly Heart single in August. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia
The video features footage of Battle’s days with G.R.L. as well as photos of her growing up with her family.
Watching those scenes was heartbreaking for the girls even as they tried to look at the video as a celebration of her life.
“She’s so happy and so full of life, she was such a goofball and that’s how you want to see her, to remember her. And then you realise she is no longer with us. It’s just hard to understand. It’s all still so raw,” Slayton said.
The four girls perform the song among dozens of light bulbs, the backdrop reminiscent of the equally moving video made by Kristian Anderson for his wife Rachel before he lost his battle with bowel cancer in 2012.
In the final scene, the singers embrace in a group hug and are clearly breaking down.
It was a spontaneous moment captured by the cameras.
US girl group G.R.L. visited Australia with Simone Battle before she took her life. Left to right: Natasha, Paula, and Simone, with Lauren and Emmalyn. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia
“It was awkward to have the cameras there in that moment because the song is so personal to us, it was inevitable we would break down,” Bennett said.
G.R.L. have linked with an American campaign Gives An Hour to promote awareness of mental illness and options for those who suffer from depression or anxiety.
“A big part of us getting back on track is to get people talking about mental illness, bringing it out into the open and to encourage people to pay attention to those around them who may be suffering internal anguish,” Slayton said.
As for the future of G.R.L., it is one day at a time for now.
“We are still very affected by what happened and it’s been difficult for us to start again, bringing this all up again,” bennett said.
“But we are about to go back into rehearsals and starting to work everything out.
“Right now, we just want to get the message of Lighthouse out there, that you have friends and you can get the support you need.”
Lighthouse is released tomorrow.
For help with emotional difficulties, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
