Alessia Cara - Shapeshifter

What this video is

Released July 23, 2021 as the visual counterpart to one of two dual lead singles from Cara's third studio album 'In the Meantime,' 'Shapeshifter' arrives at a moment when pop music videos were reclaiming short-film ambition after pandemic-era production restrictions eased. The video's satirical noir-melodrama format — in which Cara plays every major role — positions her as both auteur subject and comic performer,…

Why it matters

Represents a high-water mark for the 2021 indie-inflected pop music video format: a fully realised short-film narrative with ensemble casting fulfilled by a single artist, directed by an emerging auteur duo (Tusk) whose style merges screwball comedy, noir pastiche, and surrealist pop aesthetics.…

The director

Tusk is the directing duo of Kerry Furrh and Olivia Mitchell, USC film school graduates whose breakout short 'Girl Band' premiered at Tribeca and was acquired by Freeform. They have directed music videos for Camila Cabello, Tate McRae, Brandy, and Alessia…