Playlist: Hayley Morris

What’s the best music video you’ve seen recently and why?

I recently came across Khruangbin - May Ninth through Cartoon Brew, and was immediately captivated by the music video, directed by animators and filmmakers Jenny Lucia Mascia and Jeremy Higgins. 

I'm especially drawn to visual poetry in music videos, and this one beautifully captures the emotional essence of the song through hand-drawn animation.

What I love most is its raw, tactile quality. You can see the mark-making, the imperfections, the evidence that it was crafted traditionally, frame by frame. I’m also always a sucker for camera moves and transitions, and this one does it seamlessly.

What’s the first music video you remember being impressed by?

The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight came out when I was 10 years old, and I vividly remember waiting all day to catch it on MTV. That was the age when I started discovering music for myself, not just what my parents played. When I saw and heard The Smashing Pumpkins, I had this immediate feeling of, “This is my music.”

The video was unlike anything else at the time and rightfully won a ton of awards. It didn’t just feature the band performing, it told a fully realised, fantastical story that perfectly captured the emotion of the song. The band was seamlessly woven into the world of the video, dressed in early 1900s attire and superimposed into dreamy skies and cloudscapes. I had no idea back then that it was inspired by Georges Méliès's A Trip to the Moon, but I didn’t need to. The handmade, in camera, magical aesthetic completely mesmerised me and left a lasting impression.

Years later, I had the incredible honour of creating tour visuals for The Smashing Pumpkins during their Shiny and Oh So Bright tour in 2018, and I happy-cried the entire time I was working on it.

And what’s your all-time favourite music video?

Ah! It’s so hard to choose just one. Björk’s entire body of work is incredibly inspiring. She’s a truly multidimensional artist whose collaborations consistently bring her vision to life. 

If I had to pick, the first video that comes to mind is Björk - All Is Full of Love, directed by Chris Cunningham. It's astonishing to think it was made in 1999. The video captures the emotional core of the song in a way that’s both sensual and otherworldly. Aside from Björk’s digitally composited face, most of the visuals were achieved in-camera using custom-built robots and physical sets, which gives the piece a tactile realism that still feels futuristic. 

Another favourite is Björk - Wanderlust, directed by Encyclopedia Pictura. The use of puppetry, practical effects, and the overall art direction is gorgeous. I first saw it when I was in art school, and it made a lasting impression on me. It was unlike anything I’d seen before. Both videos are great examples of how Björk uses the music video medium not just to complement her music, but to expand on its meaning in deeply creative and visual ways. 

I also love The Shins - A Rifle’s Spiral directed by Jamie Caliri and Alex Juhasz. You don’t see full stop-motion puppet animation with a complete narrative in music videos very often. It is gorgeously designed, crafted, animated and lit. I love everything about this video.

What other directors/artists do you look to for inspiration?

For me, some of the most inspiring work comes from the past. I’m especially drawn to how filmmakers and animators, before the digital era, used inventive, hands-on techniques to bring their visions to life, by experimenting with materials, practical effects, and in-camera tricks.

Lately, I’ve been exploring Eternal Family TV, a fantastic new streaming service that curates surreal and obscure lost media. I recently subscribed and have been discovering so much inspiration by digging through its archives.

That said, my core inspirations remain timeless: Björk, David Bowie, Jean Cocteau, Jim Henson, The Brothers Quay, Jan Švankmajer, and Lotte Reiniger. Their work continues to fuel my imagination.

I’m also really excited about some contemporary artists. Cat Johnston creates stunning, one-of-a-kind puppets and characters that are deeply original. And Sean Pecknold, a stop-motion director and friend, makes work with such a delicate, emotional sensibility, it really resonates with me.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Ha, when I’m not listening to my four year old’s music, I try to sneak in time to listen to my music. I really love Perfume Genius, Idles, and an artist named Kid Tigrrr (Jenna Fournier) at the moment.

What’s your favourite bit of tech, whether for professional or personal use?

Dragonframe and my Canon 5D Mark iv.

What artist(s) would you most like to work with and why?

I have so many, but some that come to mind are Perfume Genius, Thom Yorke, Angel Olsen and of course Bjork. 

I love how they play with unconventional instrumentation and experimental sounds that are very atmospheric.