Playlist: Mia Barnes

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

I saw Mette - Mamas Eyes directed by Camille Summers-Valli recently and loved it. I was really drawn to how they made something so powerful and really pushed creative boundaries, instead of relying on a massive budget and VFX. I love when a video feels inventive and intentional.

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

I grew up watching MTV and VH1 countdown. My favourite was always P!nk - So What. 

But the first video that made me drop everything and decide this had to be my career was Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE. It felt like a moment of kismet because both So What and HUMBLE. were directed by Dave Meyers, who would later become my mentor and directing partner. 

Beyond that, the Beyoncé - Lemonade visual album was a major inspiration in pushing me toward music videos. It showed me how powerful the medium could be, not just as a promotional tool, but as a cinematic and emotional experience.

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

This is a hard one, so I’ll give you a few. Right now it’s Doechii - Crazy, directed by C Prinz. It has the craziest energy, electrifying, the movement, the rawness. It feels completely unhinged in the best way and is such a perfect visual match for the song.

Some other all-time favourites of mine: Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better, Lady Gaga - Bad Romance, Troye Sivan - Rush, and Grimes - Shinigami Eyes.

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

I draw a lot of inspiration from subversive female directors and artists like Coralie Fargeat, Petra Collins, Julia Ducournau, and Nadia Lee Cohen. I also love Sam Levinson and Euphoria, and am a big fan of Luca Guadagnino and Hayao Miyazaki films. 

On the art side, I’m really inspired by sculptor Scott Hove. His sculptural work has this amazing contrast of delicacy and ferocity, which is something I try to embody in my own creative approach.

I’m also a big lover of fashion, and aesthetics of brands/designers like Dilara Findikoglu, Simone Rocha, Diesel, Blumarine, Dion Lee, Sandy Liang, Chopova Lowena are also big inspirations to me. 

What are you listening to at the moment?

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n' Sweet deluxe tracks are on repeat right now. I typically start the day with Nora Jones. And this month my rotation has been mainly Lauryn Hill, Jamie xx, Doechii, Mura Masa, and Lola Young. I make seasonal playlists, here’s Spring '25

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

My laptop is basically my second brain and where all future ideas, thoughts, and musings are stored, hanging out waiting for me to make them. I also just got a Nikon 35ti for personal use and I’ve been loving capturing my personal life on it.

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

Lorde, Hozier, Ethel Cain, Labrinth, Doechii, FKA Twigs, Troye Sivan, Billie Eilish, and RAYE.

Not only am I a huge fan of all these artists sonically, but their music has a storytelling quality that immediately sparks visuals in my mind. Their lyrics are deeply poetic and layered, which is something I thrive on. I love when a song gives me something to chew on, not just sonically, but conceptually. I tend to build ideas from the emotional and narrative depth of a song rather than only its sound, and these artists consistently deliver that kind of rich material.

It’s not even about taking lyrics literally, I usually try to avoid that, but rather using them as a foundation to shape the mood, themes, and emotional textures of a visual.

Where do you see the music video industry being in five years’ time?

I feel it’s almost impossible for me to predict with AI, TikTok, and the general instability of how the world feels right now.

That said, my hope is that music videos remain a core part of an artist’s brand and identity. There’s something so thrilling about seeing your favourite song come to life visually, when done right, a music video can elevate a song and make it unforgettable. No matter how technology evolves, I’d love to see music videos continue to be a space for artistic experimentation and storytelling.

How do you feel the promo industry has changed since you started in it?

I’ve of course seen changes since I started my career, but I generally try to maintain a positive outlook on the future of the industry regardless of how the landscape shifts. Instead of dwelling on what might be a hindrance, I keep pushing my own creative boundaries and taking inspiration from the way the world is moving. 

No matter what I’ll always have a camera in hand, and being adaptable is a big part of being a director. I’ve loved getting to witness the booms of some of my favourite artists I’ve worked with, Sabina Carpenter for example, and seeing that kind of artistic bloom keeps me inspired and motivated.