Friendly Fires - Paris

What this video is

Released in November 2008 on XL Recordings, 'Paris' arrived at a pivotal cultural moment when the UK indie scene was absorbing continental club influences — Kompakt, Carl Craig, nu-disco — while the NME New Rave wave was subsiding. Friendly Fires, formed in St Albans and deeply influenced by Prince and German techno, embodied this synthesis. The single achieved 'Single of the Week' at The Guardian, NME, and BBC…

Why it matters

A defining artefact of the UK indie-dance crossover, 'Paris' bridged post-punk energy with euphoric Balearic club aesthetics at the precise moment blog-house and nu-disco were entering the mainstream. Its visual language — warm palette, fast editing, choreographic performance — established a…

The director

British director from London whose father was a fashion photographer and mother a stylist. Studied TV and Film at Bournemouth University. Broke into music videos directing The Cribs before building a substantial roster including Lana Del Rey, Foals, Lily…