Laura Mvula - Safe Passage

What this video is

Released March 3, 2021, 'Safe Passage' marked Laura Mvula's first official release under Atlantic Records and her first new single in five years, following her departure from Sony in 2017. The video is drawn from the 'Under A Pink Moon' livestream (February 24, 2021), itself a product of the COVID-19 pandemic era of high-production livestream performances replacing traditional touring. The track and video signal a…

Why it matters

Represents a landmark moment in the 2020s '80s synth-pop revival within UK Black pop, positioning Mvula alongside artists reclaiming that era's maximalist energy. The video's aesthetic — neon cube, power shoulders, warm-saturated cinematography — encapsulates the convergence of art-pop…

The director

James Arden is a British writer/director and assistant director based in London, working across music videos, short films, branded and cultural content. His debut short Leopard won a British Short Film Award, and his second short Sitter won the Grand Prize…