Son Lux Releases Atmospheric Music Video Out Into Us
A multimedia collaboration exploring historical memory and the nature of human connection.
1Multimedia Artistic Collaboration
The band Son Lux recently debuted a seventeen-minute music video titled Out Into Us. This project is a joint commission between MASS MoCA and Pioneer Works, created in collaboration with artist Alex Cook. It serves as an immersive installation accompanying the band's ninth studio album, offering a deep, atmospheric exploration of time.
2Critique of Digital Media
The artists developed this work to counter the modern trend of bite-sized, contextless digital content. They argue that social media often eclipses music with fleeting visuals. By prioritizing deeply felt human experiences, the project encourages viewers to slow down and engage with the material rather than consuming it in rapid, fragmented bursts.
3Historical Visual Narrative
The video features a multigenerational family gathered around a table, evoking a setting from at least a century ago. Scenes of a giant dust cloud serve as a direct reference to the Dust Bowl era. This imagery creates a tension between the past and present, disrupting the viewer's perception of linear time.
4Context of Environmental Ruin
The Dust Bowl was triggered when homesteaders plowed vast prairie lands, uprooting native grasses that held topsoil in place. Exacerbated by severe drought and powerful winds, millions of acres of soil eroded, destroying habitats. The video uses this historical backdrop to ground its narrative in themes of human ambition and environmental consequence.
5Symbolism of the Puzzle
The family in the video works on a puzzle depicting an idealized landscape reminiscent of the Hudson River School. This imagery acts as a form of historical propaganda that once enticed homesteaders to the plains. The artists suggest these romantic ideals functioned similarly to modern social media by spreading curated, idealized information.
6Sound as a Sanctuary
Guitarist Rafiq Bhatia emphasizes that sound can create a sanctuary for listeners to be present in their bodies. By decreasing the playback speed of the music, the band allows listeners to linger in hidden corners and shadows. These moments of tension and release become immersive spaces that the audience can inhabit.
7Meta-Narrative and Screens
The project takes meta turns, provoking curiosity, togetherness, hope, and grief through its sound and visuals. By the end of the video, the artists confront the audience with a unique definition of a screen. This challenge forces viewers to reconsider their relationship with the digital interfaces they use to consume art.
8Artistic Legacy and Access
This collaboration highlights the importance of independent arts publishing and immersive installations in a digital age. The work is currently available for viewing on Alex Cook’s Vimeo channel. By blending historical tragedy with contemporary musical experimentation, the project invites a profound reflection on how we perceive reality and human connection today.
Original article: Colossal — Son Lux Releases Atmospheric Music Video Out Into Us