FEATURE: Thorne – Honey (Dir. Zoe Robinson)
The music video for Thorne’s new song ‘Honey‘ is a sultry, sweet, yet never saccharine showcase for sensual queer romance and love, foregrounded by undeniably catchy rhythms pulsating throughout. The song and its accompanying visuals depict uninhibited love and carnal desire, in symbiosis with each other. An anthem of an open soul, inviting a deeper connection. The filmmakers, led by director Zoe Robinson capture something so raw and heated; retaining a naturally warm feel throughout. Unfiltered and unfettered by outside clamour, ‘Honey‘ is a noteworthy work of r’n’b pop bravado and glamour crystallised clearly from vision through to fruition. Everything from the cinematography to the production design and makeup choices feel fully developed and delivered with intent. Without waxing poetic, the richness and abundance on display is beautiful, bubbling forth with queer joy and flirting with greatness.
Standing bare, wearing only sweat, a tattoo and a lingering shadow, Honey opens with Thorne serenading the camera with his presence. While somewhat reminiscent of D’angelo in the classic video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”, the filmmakers took a more modern approach to their visual references. The music video pays homage to stylistic forebears, while also carving out its own imprint and unique style. Director Zoe Robinson notes this, saying:
“The track Honey as a standalone emits sensations of confidence, cheekiness and sexiness – a mood and an attitude we wanted to translate authentically into the visuals. Initial conversations with Luke (Thorne) centred on the kind of context we could build within the music video, focusing on warmth, intimacy, tasteful innuendo, and striking homoeroticism that would pay appropriate homage to the essence of the track. Some major visual points of inspiration were Tyla’s Water and Jorja Smith’s Be Honest – the latter of which features a sun-soaked, crowded urban living room with a beautifully naturalistic feel.”
The song’s lyrics are bold and intentionally provocative without being explicitly detailing, allowing room for imagination (while also being horny as hell). When Thorne sings “your sweet drippin’ down from my honey pie, don’t be afraid just to give it up” with a beckoning to the bedroom you just know he’s not talking about pollen. Without going full birds and bees, the music video does a great job of subtly hinting at the song’s raunchier themes; showing a cute connection between Thorne and his honey, as well as the queer community. Being comfortably planted in a daydream-like sequence from bathroom to bedroom, the nectar of this music video takes place in the living room as Thorne is joined by a roster of talent. Director Zoe Robinson shared a bit about the making and choreography of this scene, detailing:
“Our hot and summery living room scene aimed to inject the video with colour, community and energy. We had an excellent cast of fierce and fun friends who did an awesome job as a kinetic posse — honouring and hyping Thorne as the star of the show. The chemistry of the diverse and confident bunch was palpable on set, as everyone responded both to the specific direction I was calling out and to the improvised actions and movements of those around them. The visual result – a charged, flowing ensemble that nods to the celebratory homoeroticism grounding the video – with flirtation, friendship and fun at the forefront.”
The warmth that is felt and displayed throughout ‘Honey‘ is realised first and foremost through the camera lens, where a mixture of warm lighting and softness is achieved through glimmer glass. When Thorne croons to his prospective partner “just spread over me your golden love”, the visuals deliver on this and honey, does it make a statement while doing so. Every time Thorne enters the frame, the camera focuses sharply and with so much colour and vibrancy that it’s impossible to look away. Director of photography Tengis Dorj revealed his process for translating the glow of the song’s lyrics into the visuals, revealing the specific lenses used:
“We shot the Music Video on my Z Cam E2-S6. Using my Tokina 11-20 for the wides, especially the gimbal shots. And my Sigma 18-35 for any mids and close ups, keeping them close to wide open whilst shooting. To accentuate the softness and to add a bit of shine in the highlights, we also used a 1/8th Glimmer Glass on all the lenses. But in terms of the warmth, I would say that this mainly came from the lighting and the way it interacted with the location. Bringing it and that steamy vibe to the forefront.”
The flora in full bloom that is Thorne in this music video commands the space, asserting his sexuality and desire on full display. When the beat crescendos into an enigmatic breakdown and the singer beseeches their lover to “feed your queen (you know you should), liquid gold you got that good”, we pay attention. This is good S.H.I.T. (sugar honey iced tea), and amongst the drinks flowing and fresh fruit being consumed one may not register the beautiful beige and reddish brick design of the house. The location design is minimal and unfussy but works well to draw attention to the choreography of the lovers and friends intermingling. In essence, the living room becomes a kiki for queen bee Thorne to establish his presence and feel known amongst his peers. This dynamic use of space is the work of production designer Alexandrea Ward, who worked diligently to create an inviting and lived-in environment, noting:
“The foundation of the set design was built around a sense of warmth, both in temperature and colour palette. We aimed to create spaces that felt lived-in, vintage, and elevated, with a glow that matched the flirtatious tone of the track. We curated vintage pieces and layered textures to build personality into each space, drawing on references from retro interior design. The bedroom leaned into softness and intimacy, while the living room was bolder, fruity, and colourful, yet still grounded in that rich, warm base. We kept the environments feeling natural and textural, and our colourist, Daniel Witt at Moodlab, brought out the best in every scene.”
Ballroom culture centres around chosen family, and a way for marginalised LGBTQIAP+ Black and Brown folks to present themselves the way they want to be seen, defying convention and societal pressures. There are some traces of this present in the music video as Thorne’s hive of friends and lovers fan the honey, and quite literally spill tea. The most prominent pieces of self-expression in the visuals, however, come from the hair and makeup, which give a magnificent pop of colour to the affair. Hair and makeup artist Georgia Bancroft helped bring this together, and does a really rather stunning job; the makeup in particular matches the red, yellow and green of Thorne’s outfit and were rooted in tradition. She says of the artform that:
“Makeup is such a powerful medium for self expression, and that’s one of the main reasons I love it so much. Thorne and I wanted to create a look that celebrated tapping into this sensual, playful side of one’s self and how beautifully liberating that can be. We did this through using an array of bold and joyous colours/textures on the eyes, with an obvious nod to pride! It was important to us when creating this look that the colours we chose for the makeup didn’t clash or detract from Thorne’s traditional Barbados dress, as ultimately, that is the highlight of the look, and we wanted to honour it!”
‘Honey‘ finishes how it starts, with Thorne caressing himself in the afterglow of adornment. This intentional framing gives a shine to the artist and his need for love and care. As a queer and neurodivergent artist, serenity, softness and rest are key elements in the pursuit of forging identity. Something that really seals the deal for this piece conceptually is its focus on a chest tattoo that the artist Thorne got while overseas. This also just so happens to be the cover artwork of the single for Honey, bedazzled in all its glory. When asked about this, Thorne shared its context within the visuals:
“I got the tattoo in July 2024, just a few weeks before we shot the video. A Korean tattoo artist I adore was visiting Melbourne, and when I saw this intricate butterfly design on their page, I was completely captivated. It felt bold, sensual, and a little hypnotic—everything I wanted Honey to feel like. I booked it instantly. The timing was kind of insane. I already had a trip to Korea booked for late July, so I ended up flying out with this brand-new tattoo on my chest. It was the height of summer over there—blazing heat, sparkling blue water, and me refusing to let my chest go underwater because I didn’t want to mess up the fresh ink. Torture! But honestly, it felt kind of iconic to be walking around in the Korean sun with this glowing, slightly sore little butterfly catching the light. There’s also a more personal layer to it. I have ADHD, and the rainbow butterfly is a symbol often associated with neurodivergence. So while it’s visually striking, it’s also a quiet nod to a part of my identity that I’m always learning to embrace more openly. In the video, the butterfly became a beautiful symbol of transformation and flirtation. It opens the story and closes it—like a little wink to the viewer. It’s playful, a little provocative, and just the right amount of sparkle.”
Bewitching the viewer with love magic, ‘Honey‘ sets a hex then it’s gone. As the honeycomb of this song locks into full groove, so too does the feel-good energy and affirmation present. A piece of art, ‘Honey‘ shows the transformative effect of unadulterated joy and graceful, embracing love. Living free from the constraints of an often oppressive heteronormative patriarchal society means embracing your truth, and growing from your roots. Thorne shared what they learned while making this song and accompanying visual, and what they’d impart to their younger self:
“I think a lot about being the person I needed to see when I was younger. That little version of me who felt alone, like he was too much or not enough, like things were never going to change. But they do change. You grow, you meet your people, and suddenly life starts to feel a little softer, a little more yours. That “YES” sticker on the fridge? That’s for him—and for all the queer, trans, neurodivergent angels who’ve ever felt like they were on the outside. You’re not going to feel that way forever. There is so much love waiting for you. You already have your wings—you just haven’t stretched them out yet.”
‘Honey‘ is a wholehearted celebration of raw sexuality, queer solidarity, and Black excellence. A gift of warmth and connection to get you through the colder months into springtime: see what all the buzz is about for yourself.
Here is the official video for “Honey“
Music Video Credits
Director: Zoe Robinson. Producers: Alexandrea Ward & Zoe Robinson at Checklist Productions. DOP: Tengis Dorj. 1st AD: Alexandrea Ward. 1st AC: Caitlin Wong & Xavier Levine. Gaffer: Tom Molan. Production Designer: Alexandrea Ward. Hair and MU: Georgia Bancroft. Costume Assist: Owen Smith. BTS Photography: Matt Temby. Editor: Zoe Robinson. Colourist: Daniel Witt at Moodlab. Cast: Luke Thorne, Paris Elwood. Extras: Keishan Jones, Ri’chard Caldwell, Nelson Javier Hernandez, Jacky Chen, Cem Turhan. Special thanks: Billy O’Connell & Owen Smith.
