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The music video for Glass Animals’ lead single, “Dreamland,” seems, at first, simple— simple concept, simple execution, simple video.

The video begins with a close up on lead singer, Dave Bayley: the room he’s in is bathed in pink light, footage from a childhood scene projected across his face. He is in front of a pink curtain, a cloud made of cotton above his head. As the camera pulls out, Bayley moves with it, the two steadily moving through the room, revealing more memorabilia from childhood seemingly floating in the air. Toys, balloons, a bowl of cereal, photos, and a TV set come into view as Bayley sings of childhood, memories, and dreams. He raises his arm and takes a photo of himself using an old-school Polaroid camera.

At the two minute mark, the tone shifts.

“How the hell am I going to get this up the stairs?,” Bayley sighs, as suddenly, we are in his front hallway. It is strewn with dozens of packages, some opened, revealing filming equipment. The rest of the video shows Bayley’s process as he unpacks and puts together the camera, set, camera track, and more, with only the help of an instruction packet.

This is production in the time of Coronavirus.

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused unimaginable shifts in the music industry. As the virus has made it impossible to gather, studios have closed, albums have been put on hold, and concerts have mostly ceased until 2021. At a time when the world is craving touch, escapism, and community, we are forced to restrain ourselves for the greater good.

And yet, as it always does in times of tragedy and crisis, art finds a way to innovate and flourish. Musicians have begun giving concerts over platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and even Fortnite, a popular video game. Artists have written and produced music from their own homes, creating quarantine anthems that address the unique stress we are collectively facing.

In their typical fearless fashion, Glass Animals has managed to produce two music videos during this time. The singles from their upcoming album, Dreamland, (and their accompanying music videos) manage to stay true to the content of the songs while also tapping into the unprecedented moment that we are in.

The “Dreamland” video spends the back half showing what it took for Bayley to create the first two minutes of the video, a sped-up timelapse putting the hard work, ingenuity, and creativity on full display for the viewer. We see Bayley setting up lighting rigs, building a camera track, and drilling and constructing the set.

There is something intimate about seeing the behind-the-scenes process of how the music video magic was created. There is something even more intimate about the fact this all took place in Bayley’s home. The deeply personal theme of the album is mirrored in this video as it lets us into a world we would typically never have seen. In the same way that we have glimpsed into the personal homes of stars and television correspondents via their livestream backgrounds, here, we are given a peek into the personal life of a musician who has been otherwise mostly tight-lipped.

It feels appropriate that Dreamland, an album so personal and steeped in tragedy and worry, should be released during the current climate. The album is the band’s first since their drummer, Joe Seaward, was in a bike accident involving a Dublin City bus. Seaward has since relearned how to walk, speak, and drum, and has come out the other side. Bayley has divulged that the album is heavily influenced by this event, though, writing in a statement on Instagram,

“The idea for this album came at a time of confusion and uncertainty. My best friend was in the hospital. I didn’t know if he’d make it. The future was damn scary and completely unknown. During those weeks in the hospital, it was so diicult to look forwards that I found myself looking backwards. Digging around in my mind, pulling up old memories, finding comfort in them even if they were uncomfortable in themselves.”

He never could have predicted that by the

time the album was ready to be released, the things will feel safe again or if we will ever entire world would be facing similar fears of a return to what we knew. The people leaning future unknown. out their windows and filming on their

On June 28, Glass Animals announced phones reflect our current dependence on that they would be delaying their album’s technology to stay connected to one another release—originally scheduled for July 10— while the empty street and bus reflect how until August. Citing the current political much our world has changed. climate surrounding the Black Lives Matter With “Heat Waves,” the band—which has movement and police reform, the band a history of meaningful and avant-garde wanted to keep the focus on important videos—delivered yet another poignant and conversations and protests happening in the memorable piece. It reflects the state of the wake of the murder of George Floyd by police. world while remaining true to their lyrics, Acknowledging the disappointment that they style, and selves. expected fans to Though it feel, the band involved more released another “The song is about loss people than single, “Heat Bayley’s DIY Waves,” and its and longing, and ultimately “Dreamland” video, music video to make up for the realizing you are unable to save the influence of quarantine is still wait. something…and this video is strong with “Heat The music video for the song about that but for art, being Waves.” You can’t help but imagine shows Bayley together, and human contact. ” the camera walking through his empty street, - Dave Bayley operators wearing face masks as dragging a wagon they film; the filled with TVs production crew behind him. We likely minimized see people in windows filming him with their to one cameraman, one lighting technician, iPhones while he goes by. As he approaches the director, and Bayley, all keeping a six-foot a cross street, an empty double-decker bus distance from one another. drives by him with a Glass Animals poster “This video is a love letter to live music and plastered on its side. He eventually arrives at the culture and togetherness surrounding an empty theatre where he sets up the three it. It was filmed at the peak of the lockdown TVs, each one displaying one of his fellow band in my neighbourhood in East London by the members. lovely people who live around me, just using

Pink lights hit the stage as Bayley and his their phones,” Bayley posted in a statement on televised band proceed to perform the song YouTube. “The song is about loss and longing, to an empty audience, finally panning out to and ultimately realizing you are unable to save the auditorium doors which close and reveal something…and this video is about that but a Glass Animals poster declaring that the for art, being together, and human contact.” imaginary show is “sold out.” With these two videos, Glass Animals has

Once a space filled with love, bonding, and once again proven their ability to adapt and acceptance, live music is currently a danger evolve as musicians and artists. Rising to the to our communities. This video speaks to occasion they have produced content that is the ache all music lovers and performers simultaneously longing and hopeful, reflective are feeling right now as we reimagine what and innovative, of the moment and for the the world, and concerts, will look like after future. COVID-19. It summons questions of when