Nation of Language - Inept Apollo

What this video is

Released May 15, 2025 as Nation of Language's debut single for Sub Pop Records — itself a culturally significant label signing for a Brooklyn indie act — 'Inept Apollo' arrives as the lead single for the album 'Dance Called Memory.' The song and video engage directly with themes of artistic labor, impostor syndrome, and creative community, situating the work within a broader 2020s discourse around the emotional…

Why it matters

As the lead single of 'Dance Called Memory' and the band's first Sub Pop release, 'Inept Apollo' marks a pivotal moment in the 2020s synth-pop revival, demonstrating how new wave aesthetics — percolating synthesizers, post-punk rhythmic drive, and emotionally earnest vocals — have been…

The director

John MacKay is a music video director identified across multiple music press outlets in connection with the 'Inept Apollo' video. He is described by Nation of Language as a close collaborator. No additional independently verifiable career credits were…