Raja Virdi directs a signature one-shot video for an unexpected collaboration between Sigrid and Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes on Bad Life. 

Bringing both a sense of scale and simplicity to what is quite an intimate idea, Virdi uses a stripped-back set as an environment for the two artists to inhabit and make their own. 

The cinematic visual is packed full of gripping moments and emotional performances, which take viewers on an engrossing journey.

I tried to treat the music video as a gig in a way, moving up and down the stage.

Sigrid has commented that her and Sykes wanted the video to be simple enough to emphasise the song's lyrics. "It’s a song that I hope can offer some comfort for anyone who’s having a rough day, knowing that it will pass," she explains. "We collaborated with Raja, and we ended on this dark, slightly surreal world of Oli and I on each side of a worn-down house, not knowing what the other one is going through on the other side.

"Oli’s such a natural performer, so I knew he’d be great anyways. I tried to treat the music video as a gig, in a way, moving up and down the stage.”

Virdi says that the concept of the one-shot film was to lean into those themes, of getting through the 'bad life' to reach the other side. 

Life can feel like a rollercoaster sometimes. I wanted to represent that feeling...

"Life can certainly feel like a rollercoaster sometimes," he says. "I wanted to represent that feeling with Sigrid and Oli performing on a theatrical, otherworldly sunken set in the middle of a vast body of water, which suddenly transforms into a stormy and thunderous surrealistic visual with the eventuality of reaching resolution." 

"Working with Sigrid and Oli was a dream," Virdi continues. "They are both extraordinarily talented performers and were absolute troopers through a long shoot day. The crew were fantastic and took what was a very challenging one-shot, head on. Huge props to the crane, SFX and lighting teams for working in synergy so well with all the cues and my backbone 1st AD Chris Malin making it all run smooth. Plus my incredible post team of colourist Connor Coolbear (and the entire ETC team) and the hero Jakob Thorhallsson who smashed the tricky VFX. 

"Much love to my production family in (producer) Joseph, Noir, my brilliant rep Claire and commissioner Connie for getting this all over the line."