Boy meets girl in an internet chatroom in Enea Colombi's nostalgic take on early days of online encounters for Ceri Wax.The video for Solo 2 sees a boy with an unusual appearance log into a site like Chatroullette in the late Noughties, seeing myriad faces before a deeper connection is made with a girl - who then starts to dance to the camera. Colombi highlights a moment of innocence, and the rarely discussed up-side of internet connectivity, while also hinting at the darker stuff."This music video was inspired by one of the digital phenomena that marked an entire generation: the world of random online encounters (Chatroulette + Omegle)," he describes. "These platforms began with noble intentions and eventually collapsed under their own contradictions. For a while, though, they offered a space for escape, for discovery - a place where one could adopt a second identity or simply be themselves."This is the story of a boy with a deformed appearance. Maybe he truly looks this way, or maybe it’s just the way he sees himself—a projection of his own deep sense of inadequacy. He longs for connection, for someone who can see beyond the surface.We were deeply moved by the words of Omegle’s creator: 'From the moment I discovered the Internet at a young age, it has been a magical place to me. Growing up in a small town, relatively isolated from the larger world, it was a revelation how much more there was to discover – how many interesting people and ideas the world had to offer.'In short, the Internet opened the door to a much larger, more diverse, and more vibrant world than I would have otherwise been able to experience; and enabled me to be an active participant in, and contributor to, that world. All of this helped me to learn, and to grow into a more well-rounded person. Moreover, as a survivor of childhood rape, I was acutely aware that any time I interacted with someone in the physical world, I was risking my physical body. The internet gave me a refuge from that fear...'"The music video was made with an extremely limited budget. We recreated the original 2007 Chatroulette interface (now radically changed) with the help of a small team of developers. Thanks to them, we were able to build a casting process involving volunteer participants who became part of this experimental narrative."

Shame frontman Charlie Steen rides the Wall Of Death for Cutthroat - the band's third impressive team-up with director Ja Humby.Steen takes to the legendary Wall on his motorbike, wearing a dog collar and no shirt - can he really be doing his own stunts? - as the band perform beneath him (which also looks quite dangerous). And when he's not on his bike he's parading in the arena wearing gold shorts like a puny bodybuilder in front of some quizzical spectators - and still wearing the dog collar.It's a characteristically pugnacious performance from Shame's frontman in a Humby-directed visual, having previously played a manic wannabe influencer in the Fingers Of Steel video. And as the first video from their new album its also a fine introduction to the band's new edgy garage rock direction.

Lauren Dunn has created a visual for Kacy Hill that's both intimate and widescreen cinematic for the singer-songwriter's emotional song Please Don't Cry.With gorgeous cinematography by Jeremy Herron, working with a colour scheme that reflects the tension in the lyrics (and Kacy's hair), rather than the song's relaxed pace, Dunn's video focusses entirely on the singer and her performance within an idyllic vision of smalltown America streaked through with scarlet.The almost subliminal effect on the viewer is that behind Kacy's demeanour, there's something more fiery under the surface, and it's taken some things to happen for her to get to this level of stillness. "Wow this project with Kacy Hill means so much to me," says Lauren, via Instagram. "This video is a love letter to processing grief and being forced to confront your feelings. Kacy and I have been friends and collaborators for over a decade and we both have been making our way through different forms of grief... This project is a cathartic release for us both."I have forever gratitude for my incredible DP [Jeremy Herron] for being just as passionate and dedicated to the vision as we were."And I don’t have enough words to describe how insanely lucky I am to have Sebastian [Zotoff] as a trusted friend and visionary that always brings the best out of me."

The first of two more promos by directing duo LateMilk in the lead-up to the release of AJ Tracey's new album Don't Die Before You're Dead is arguably their most personal collaboration. It's also the video where animation takes the lead role in the creative, as a means to deliver the raw emotion of the song's theme.The video for 3rd Time Lucky is a tribute to AJ Tracey’s mother and her journey with cancer, capturing how deeply it shaped their relationship and the strength they found in facing it together. At the centre of it all is a soft, wide-eyed bunny. A recurring symbol from the album, and here, a quiet reflection of Tracey's more vulnerable side.LateMilk worked with stop motion animator Imbro to tell the story of a mother and son - represented as bunnies - dealing with what life throws at them. Things become more ominous, as the mother rabbit begins to be stalked by a monster. And eventually she has to confront and defeat the creature.The directors have brought this to life with clarity and care, using symbolism to play off the direct personal message from AJ to his mother. As such it makes Tracey's message a love letter to mothers, to vulnerability, and to the quiet power of shared strength. Appropriately it was created in proud support of Maggie’s and the vital work they do for those affected by cancer.