The story of six working-class Wirral teens that shook the British Indie scene
J6 Films is delighted to share that Dreaming of You: The Making of The Coral will have its sold out World Premiere at Sheffield Doc Fest on 21st June. Due to popular demand, additional screenings have now been added on 22nd June for the definitive documentary on the hit Merseyside band The Coral.
“If you’re going to tell the story of “If you’re going to tell the story of The Coral, then it would be about growing up. An adventure that led to an album.” Nick Power, The Coral
Dreaming of You: The Making of The Coral follows the story of six childhood outsiders from Merseyside as they transform into one of the most influential British guitar bands of the new millennium. Their high-energy blend of psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll revitalising the doldrums of the post-Britpop music scene.
Narrated by the band, the film is an immersive experience that creatively combines reconstruction, archive footage, and animation to capture the early 2000s era through the eyes of six northern teenagers, who together created their own strange, endlessly creative escapist universe. As the friends leave their sleepy seaside hometown of Hoylake in pursuit of musical glory, the spotlight eventually finds them but is it fame they’re after or is it just being together?
With appearances from iconic indie bands The Lightning Seeds, The Zutons and Tramp Attack, Dreaming of You: The Making of The Coral is a dreamscape of friendship, fame and fuzzy guitars. The film commemorates The Coral from their working-class Merseyside roots, through their rise in Liverpool’s Bandwagon Scene, going on to become one of the UK’s most influential bands.
“The First incarnation of the band was a Ghosthunting business” James Skelly, The Coral
For director James Slater, the creative direction for the film was as important as the story itself, speaking on this James said
“I wanted Dreaming of You to be an immersive experience—one that transports us back to Northwest England in the late ’90s and early 2000s. …The visual aesthetic of the film is further enhanced by the formats used to shoot both the GVs and reconstructions—Mini DV, Hi-8, 16mm, and 8mm—all mediums that were used to document the band at the time. This rich visual tapestry is accompanied not only by the band’s musical archive but also by a layered sound design that further immerses us in the era, embedding us deeply within the time and place.”
On celebrating the sold out World Premiere at Sheffield Doc Fest, director James Slater commented “It’s an honour to be part of Sheffield DocFest, especially alongside such an incredible line-up of films. Dreaming of You is a northern coming-of-age story at heart, so it feels especially fitting for the journey to begin here…”.
Screening Details
World Premiere Sat 21 June at 12:30 Showroom
Extended Q&A with director James Slater and the band The Coral.
The Coral formed on the Wirral, Merseyside, in the mid-nineties. Emerging from Liverpool’s vibrant late-’90s garage rock scene, they quickly caught the attention of Alan Wills, who, captivated by their eclectic sound, founded DeltaSonic Records around them. Their 2001 debut single, Shadows Fall, earned national recognition, and they were soon hailed as pioneers of a new wave of rock ’n’ roll energy—an antidote to the stagnation of the post-Britpop era.
Their self-titled 2002 debut album, featuring the now-iconic single Dreaming of You, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and named the best album of the year by NME. They followed it up with Magic and Medicine (2003), a critical and commercial triumph that topped the UK charts and produced four Top 20 singles, including Pass It On, Bill McCai, and Don’t Think You’re the First.
Over three decades, The Coral have remained one of the UK’s most enduring and consistently inventive bands. They have released eleven studio albums, including The Invisible Invasion (2005), Roots & Echoes(2007), and Coral Island (2021), blending elements of psychedelic folk, Garage folk, with their own unique brand of haunting dreamlike melody. Their influence can be heard in the work of later British indie acts such as Arctic Monkeys and Blossoms, who credit The Coral with shaping their sound.
Still together after 30 years, The Coral continue to evolve while maintaining their blend of melody, storytelling, and experimental edge—securing their place as one of the most distinctive and influential British bands of their generation.
James Slater
James Slater, Director’s Statement:
In December 2002, my friend Neil showed up at my flat in Toxteth, Liverpool, beaming. Alan Wills, manager of Britain’s hottest new band, The Coral, had called— they wanted us, two broke, DIY music video directors, to shoot their next promo.
The single was Don’t Think You’re The First, a haunting, psychedelic shuffle. The label had planned a £50k video, but the band, skeptical of industry gloss, scrapped it in favour of our lo-fi, Mini-DV approach. We arrived at the shoot with two camcorders strapped to a plank—our makeshift Steadicam.
The Coral were a gang—insular, tight-knit, and uninterested in industry games. But once you were in, you were in. That job changed everything. Within weeks, we were in L.A. filming Pass It On, then in Holland for Bill McCai, always just Neil, me, and a spare pair of hands. Our scruffy, no-tech videos somehow fit perfectly between the polished promos on Sony’s roster.
My filmmaking career started with The Coral, and in many ways, always leads back to them. So when James Skelly approached me to make a film celebrating their debut album, it felt inevitable. I dug out my old Mini-DVtapes, picked up boxes of scrapbooks, and pieced together a story.
Footage of backyard wrestling matches, kung fu films, and Easy Rider remakes (retitled Lazy Rider on the Wirral) revealed a band rooted in friendship—a group of misfits who just wanted to play music together. In interviews, a clear story emerged: they weren’t chasing fame, they were chasing greatness. Rob Stringer, head of Sony, once told me, They could’ve been massive, but they didn’t want it. He was right. They didn’t want to be the biggest—just the best.
Even today, artists seek me out because of my work with The Coral. They’re one of the most influential British guitar bands of the new millennium, and I hope this film shines a light on a group that deserves far more recognition.
About J6 Films:
J6 Films is a production company and a collective of critically acclaimed directors.
Director: James Slater
Featuring: The Coral: James Skelly, Paul Duffy, Nick Power, Ian Skelly, Paul Molloy,
Past members: Bill Ryder-Jones, Lee Southall and Alan Wills, Rob Stringer (Sony), Ian Broudie (The Lightning Seeds), Dave McCabe (The Zutons), Supergrass, Oasis
Rara Avis’ affiliated creative, Arsh ABG is set to debut her EP Launch at her self headlining event, Cake & Cruise Party. This Party will feature some affiliate community member creatives like, Dilo Swagz, Soundboy FA, Kween B and Blue Pinky. Other performance include music by Astral Nova and event hosting by Hype Venom.
Rara Avis Endorsement
Rara Avis is known for fostering and encouraging collaboration between emerging and debutant creatives. We believe that it is one of the best strategies for creative growth. Cross-peer networking is one of the focal ways creatives can support each others’ craft and build a formidable brand. Rara Avis endorses this event by the multi-hyphenated Arsh ABG, who doubles as a photographer and creative entrepreneur. Her sound is unique and tilts towards melancholia but with some upbeat afrobeats balance.
Birthday Celebration and Activities
The event is slated for May 16TH 2025, which intentionally falls on Arsh ABG’s birthday to mark both events.
Activities lined up include games, artist performance, food, dance and more. It starts at 11PM at an undisclosed location at Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. It promises to be an unforgettable and very electrifying experience especially with the calibre of artists in the lineup.
Ticket
For tickets and reservation contact +2348143849440 or send an inquiry mail to admin@raraavisentertainment.com
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Darlington Alas Asaba, whose stage name is Blinkz Baba, is a multihyphenate creative as is expected of any creative affiliated with Rara Avis. Blinkz is a singer, songwriter, event planner, hype mc, and DJ. He is an astonishingly talented singer and songwriter. One of his songs which stands out and is easily recognizable is his hit song ”Omotena“!
This culturally infused track, with its captivating rhythm, melody, and lyrics, is guaranteed to get you moving! Its heartfelt tribute to an anonymous female figure resonates with women of all kinds. Celebrating the strength and beauty of womanhood, this song makes a perfect dedication from any man to his special someone – no need to change a single name in the lyrics
Rara Avis on Blinkz ”Omotena”
Blinkz has been an integral part of Rara Avis, right from the inception. He doesn’t quite fit into the debutant profile, -though he’s a fast emerging artist- because he has had some performance opportunities prior to signing up.
He is a full powerhouse… Rara Avis’ Golden Creative! Yes! He is usually the last artist to perform because just like in a relay, you want to save the best for last to make up for lapses from other team members.
Blinkz never disappoints with his performances. He always gets a standing ovation at hugely packed events. He was part of our entourage to SMA Nigeria. see link
Last year, Blinkz made it to the finals of a music themed reality TV competition ”Naija Star Search” organized by Startimes with the support of Trace Naija: Trace Naija‘s parent company is Trace Africa .
Blinkz Baba performed on season 2 of Naija Star Search on ST Nollywood Plus on Saturdays at 8 PM.
INTERVIEW
Here Rara Avis talks to Blinkz Baba about his experiences prior to and post competition:
Pre-Competition Experience
Rara Avis : What motivated you to sign up for the Naija Star search competition?
Blinkz Baba : I was motivated because i am a talented singer and i knew i have what it takes to compete.
Rara Avis : Can you share your musical background and experiences before entering the competition?
Blinkz Baba : Before entering the competition i was already doing music professionally : I had put out a body of work and was going out for gigs.
Rara Avis : What were your expectations from the competition, and did you have any prior experience with music competitions?
Blinkz Baba : My expectations while in competition was to gain new knowledge, better approach to live performance and also to emerge as the winner.
Competition Experience
Rara Avis : How would you describe your experience as a contestant on the show?
Blinkz Baba : It was a bit tough having to meet different personalities and to have to work as a group to perform a song … but in the end , it made me even better.
Rara Avis : What were some of the most challenging moments for you during the competition?
Blinkz Baba : Some of the most challenging moments in the competition was have to nominate my fellow contestant for eviction and also getting to do unfamiliar songs and having just a day to score it … and perform same day.
Rara Avis : How did you handle the pressure and stress of performing live and being judged?
Blinkz Baba : It wasn’t as much pressure for me because I was already used to performing in front for thousands of people.
Career Impact
Rara Avis : How has being a finalist on the competition impacted your music career?
Blinkz Baba : Becoming a finalist has helped me in gaining more attention and connection. It was a career boost for my music…price went up.
Rara Avis : Have you seen an increase in fan engagement, bookings, or collaborations since the show?
Blinkz Baba : Yes, absolutely, especially in terms of booking
Rara Avis : Can you share any notable opportunities or achievements that have arisen as a result of your participation?
Blinkz Baba : As result of my participation, I have worked with Trace TV on several occasions. I had a meeting with the popularly known singer, Oxlade, I am working on a distribution opportunity with Nigerian hiphop first lady her self, Sasha P, I also got special branding tips from Vector and international producer Cobahms .
Lessons Learned
Rara Avis : What were some of the most valuable lessons you learned from your experience on the show?
Blinkz Baba : I learnt to put in creativity during my stage performances. I learnt music writing.
Rara Avis : How did the competition help you grow as an artist, and what skills did you develop?
Blinkz Baba : It helped grow my confidence, how to handle a microphone properly and to always leverage on being on camera at all times.
Rara Avis : Are there any specific feedback or critiques from the judges that have stuck with you and influenced your music?
Blinkz Baba : Yes the judges told me to also use my vocal strength, and they see me rocking Jazz festivals around the world.
Yes the judges told me to also use my vocal strength, and they see me rocking Jazz festivals around the world.
Blinkz on Judges’ remarks
Personal Growth
Rara Avis : How did the competition affect you personally, and what did you learn about yourself?
Blinkz Baba : I learnt and discovered that I could actually sing better than I thought I could because the competition allowed me to push myself to the limit and discover my potential.
Rara Avis : Were there any moments of self-doubt or uncertainty, and how did you overcome them?
Blinkz Baba : I was in a competition with so many talented singers and sometimes when I hear them sing,I have that fright … but in all, I remained confident of myself and delivered.
Rara Avis : How has your experience on the show shaped your perspective on success and perseverance?
Blinkz Baba : My participation in the show has helped me believe in my creativity, in music and i see success closer than I ever did before!
Future Plans
Rara Avis : What’s next for you musically, and are you working on any new projects?
Blinkz Baba : I just dropped a new song titled Cold available on all platforms. I am also in the process of putting out my first EP soon where I will be collaborating with some talented creatives like myself.
Rara Avis : How do you plan to leverage your experience and exposure from the competition to further your career?
Blinkz Baba : With the experience I have gotten from the competition I plan to use all what I have learnt and put it in my music … and of course collaborate.
Rara Avis : Are there any specific goals or milestones you’re aiming to achieve in the next year or two?
Blinkz Baba : Yes. In the next two years my prediction is for my music to have gone global and get that full attention it deserves.
Reflection on Rara Avis
Rara Avis :Did Rara Avis have any impact on your career prior to going on Naija Star Search?
Blinkz Baba : Rara Avis has always been the backbone to my experience in stage performances and branding.
Rara Avis : What do you think that Rara Avis should do to help prepare artists who want to go on competitions such as Naija Star Search?
Blinkz Baba : I think Rara Avis should keep doing what its already doing … that is training creatives, take them for performance tour and also encourage artist to better their craft.
Rara Avis : Would you recommend Rara Avis to emerging artists? Why?
Blinkz Baba : One simple reason is because Rara Avis is part of my music success today. One thing I know is that with Rara Avis your growth is certain!
One simple reason is because Rara Avis is part of my music success today. One thing I know is that with Rara Avis your growth is certain!
Blinkz on Rara Avis
As a multihyphenate creative, you have to keep pushing like Blinkz is. He is a phenomenal artist and a powerhouse on stage. However, there’s still a lot to be accomplished because he hasn’t even tapped into a quarter of his talents!
Watch some of Blinkz‘s performances at Naija Star Search.
