“Air ‘Em Out” by Clipping.
Directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada
Off the LA Sub Pop experimental noise-rap act’s dystopian space sophomore record Splendor and Misery. The video features Clipping. member and Tony & Grammy award winner Daveed Diggs spitting in space and floating amongst pills. Sometimes that’s just all you need when the verses and the performance is that out of this world and god damn this shit is in space and as one of the YouTube comments on this video noted, “Daveed Diggs is probably the most underrated rapper out there right now. Every single song is bars.”
“Butterfly” by Grimes
Directed by Claire Boucher
Featuring Hana and made by Boucher while on tour. It’s a floaty, dreamy little thing that transports you to the world of Grimes. Also, some pretty masks and lots of wind work.
“Starboy” by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
Directed by Grant Singer
Abel smashes up all his awards and shit, not giving a fuck, then drives away. Who cares? He doesn’t. He’s a motherfuckin’ starboy.
“Your Best American Girl” by Mitski
Directed by Zia Anger
When Mitski explained this song to one of our fav podcasts Song Exploder , she said “I was in love with somebody, but I just felt like our backgrounds or the places we come from or how we were raised were so completely different…” This video is a stunning extension of the song, where Mitski looks on as a cute boy who she’s making eyes at is quickly distracted by an basic white girl in a flower crown who begins to lick said cute boys face. Mitski turns and makes-out with herself instead. As Mitski told Song Exploder, “you always want what you can’t have, and that all-American thing, from the day I was born, I could never enter that dream. That all-American white culture is something that is inherited instead of attained. So yes, it’s a sad song, but I wanted to make sure it reflected all of the contrasting feelings. You can be heartbroken about a relationship, but also, from it, realize you are you and you’re okay with who you are, or where you came from.”
“Missoula” by Tasseomancy
Directed by Romy and Sari Lightman
A news broadcast from an optimistic, saxophone filled other planet. Kate Bush 5.0 vibes. The ticker reads things like “Don’t be afraid. Do Easy instead.” and “Minimum wage increased to maximum wage. Woman will receive double the max.”
“DAPPER” Domo Genesis featuring Anderson. Paak
Directed by Alex Lill
.Paak at it again! ….oh god that was terrible. We’re sorry but we’re not sorry for this rollerskate rink fantasy which features the Odd Future gang and Domo riding around the rink in an armchair rigged up to a track while in a shirt that says “DO YOUR CHORES” – Needless to say, it’s dope. Smoke that fire.
“TRASHYARD” by FRIGS
Directed by Adam James Kemp
Arts & Crafts signees Frigs are known locally for how fantastic they are live. This simple performance video brings us into their world. An intimate setting, vulnerable & raw. Frontwoman Bria is powerful & hypnotizing. It clocks in just under seven minutes but it goes by like seconds and Frigs pull you in and you sink, melting into it all.
“Female Vampire” by Jenny Hval
Directed by Jenny Berger Myhre
Off the Norwegian artist’s haunting sixth album Blood Bitch, a concept album that focuses around femininity and vampires. As Hval said “What does eternity feel like? How do you ‘live’ when there is no death?”
“CRANES IN THE SKY” by SOLANGE
Directed by Alan Ferguson and Solange Knowles
Every. Single. Shot. Is. Stunning. Scratch that, everything Solange has done this year is stunning. Have you heaaaaard A Seat at the Table?!
“Shut Up Kiss Me” by Angel Olsen
Directed by Angel Olsen
Shut up and watch this video.