Travis - Closer

What this video is

Released in spring 2007, 'Closer' marked Travis's commercial comeback after a difficult period following the darker 12 Memories (2003). The choice to shoot a high-concept comedic video in Los Angeles — enlisting a Hollywood A-lister — reflects the band's attempt to relaunch with a light, globally accessible tone. The supermarket setting satirizes mundane working life, a recurring motif in British pop culture, while…

Why it matters

A flagship example of mid-2000s UK indie rock's mainstream video aesthetic: glossy HD production, high-concept comedic narrative, and celebrity integration used to amplify chart appeal. The video helped reestablish Travis as a commercially viable act and exemplifies the post-Britpop era's shift…

The director

Michael Baldwin is a music video director whose credits include videos for Travis, Dave Matthews Band, and Melanie C, among others. The 'Closer' video was produced under Streetgang Films with producer Jason Botkin.