Chad VanGaalen - Monster

What this video is

Released in 2014 as part of VanGaalen's fifth studio album Shrink Dust on Sub Pop and Flemish Eye, 'Monster' exists within a mid-2010s moment when musician-animators were reclaiming full creative control over their visual output, bypassing traditional video commissioners. VanGaalen's practice — rooted in Calgary's independent arts community — represents a distinctly Canadian strand of psychedelic DIY animation that…

Why it matters

The video is a landmark example of the musician-as-animator archetype within Canadian indie music, demonstrating that a single artist could command both sonic and visual authorship at a professional award-nominated level. It reinforces Sub Pop's mid-2010s identity as a home for eccentric,…

The director

Chad VanGaalen (born 1977) is a Canadian musician, animator, and artist from Calgary, Alberta. He is a multi-disciplinary auteur who creates his own album artwork, animated music videos, and custom instruments. His video for Timber Timbre's 'Beat the Drum…