“Work” by Rihanna featuring Drake
Directed by Director X // Tim Erem
A video so nice they made it twice.
“So Far From Home” by Harrison featuring Young Guv
Directed by Tristan C-M
You may know Toronto’s own Harrison from his funky beats we’ve been sharing over the past few year, and you probably know Young Guv AKA Ben Cook from Fucked Up or No Warning or his dope label Bad Actors or his past work as a child actor. “So Far From Home” is a simple case of a music video matching the vibe of the track so perfectly that makes this one such perfection. Where “It’s Okay I’m Sorry” plays with form and stretches it, “So Far From Home ” focuses in on the classic music video convention of just “looking cool and vibing with the track” in a loving way. The video features these two musical troublemakers chilling in a graveyard. We see Ben Cook cuddle with a chicken. Harrison plays in a vast and open field. Ben Cook dons some white silk pajamas and mugs on the beach. It’s a little cheesy and a lot of fun while remaining cool like a smooth operator and it matches the track perfectly.
“Nobody Speak” by DJ Shadow featuring Run The Jewels
Directed by Sam Pilling
Political, powerful & dope. Says DJ Shadow, “We wanted to make a positive, life-affirming video that captures politicians at their election-year best. We got this instead.”
“Swooner” by Beliefs
Directed by Ivy Lovell
In the video, frontwoman Jesse Crow (who’s a hairdresser when she’s not busy blowing minds from the stage) let’s Shez from Greys shave her head. The song plays as subtitles let you follow along during their conversation as he shaves her head. It’s a
beautiful & funny piece on friendship that warms even the coldest of hearts.
“Lost Youth / Lost You” by How To Dress Well
Directed by Ben Tricklebank
We spoke with Tom Krell AKA How To Dress Well earlier this year about his latest album and the role of love, passion and vulnerability within it. This video showcases just a taste of it, with Krell naked amongst a kaleidoscope of fellow naked bodies, tangled & interacting with him as he sings “I think I know what love is now, I think I got it figured out, but then the second that I open my mouth, gonna change my heart again.” Watch the NSFW version here.
“EAT” by Young M.A.
Directed by a piece by guy x Young M.A.
“OOOUUU” may have been THE song but this is THE video. Young M.A. is coming for the crown. Don’t you dare get in her way.
“Snakehead” by Dilly Dally
Photography by Peter Hadfield
More subtitles ! In this lil bite of sweetness, the video opens with Katie Monks on the phone, “Music videos are bullshit. What a waste of time. What a waste of money.” There’s glitchy, analog, gif like imagery featuring the band as the grungy track plays along with the Monks inner monologue of the mundane. “I wonder how the band is doing? Do we have to practice today? Feeling emo as fukk… Kenton, wanna play video games?”
“Better Than Me” by Blood Orange
Directed By Devonté Hynes
This year, Blood Orange released the incredible album Freetown Sound and a handful of amazing videos to match like “Augustine ” & “I Know .” Featuring our Canadian princess Carly Rae Jepsen & movement by choreographer Juri Onuki, Hynes leads a dance as the sun sets.
“Shields” by FOXTROTT
Directed by Kevin Calero
From the Montréal On The Rise act’s debut album A Taller Us. According to FOXTROTT, “Shields is about mourning a previous toxic state and the emancipation that follows when you muster enough courage to embrace change and set new rules.” The video elaborates on this through dance in a dimly lit church.
“Side To Side” by Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj
Directed by Hannah Lux Davis
Hannah Lux Davis is a pop music video pro. She’s made videos for Miley, Tinashe, Hailee Steinfeld, Ciara, Jessie J, Fifth Harmony & more, but this just might be her most culturally iconic piece to date.