Trust us.
Image by Termite Lounge from Bassvictim’s Forever Salty music video
It’s hard to keep up with the seemingly endless stream of new tracks, and for those of us who are chronically tied to our headphones, keeping up with the drops of music’s visual world can be even harder. But don’t worry, we have sifted through this year’s run of releases to compile you a guide of the vids you really shouldn’t skip out on.
From Oklou’s frost-kissed ether with Bladee and Arca’s cosmic solitude, to Bassvictim’s debut and EQ’s glitter-slick dream: all of them demand your eyeballs now. So go ahead: look, listen, and pretend you discovered them first <3
Bassvictim – Forever Salty, Directed by Termite Lounge
2025’s electronic troublemakers dismantle Newton’s cradle in their debut music video for Forever Salty. Rising to niche, increasingly infamous niche stardom this year (no hate tho, I am a #vicitmofthebass), London-based electronic duo Bassvictim have been on the tongues and in the playlists of music critics and internet kids alike for their ragingly infectious and buzzed-out twee afflicted pop. The MV for Forever Salty (directed by the underground’s newest creative studio Termite Lounge) encapsulates the duo’s intangible appeal as the two appear statuesque, unafflicted even, while their background fluxes in and out accordingly to the transmissions only they can set forth.
Oklou – take me by the hand ft. Bladee, Directed by Tohé Commaret
Rewinding to February, Oklou’s debut (and already seminal) album choke enough led us through the snowy months by the light of exquisitely esoteric pop. To defrost our freezing hearts, take me by the hand, arrived as the first single, featuring drained out darling Bladee to open the portal into Oklou’s frosty ether. Glowing snowflakes, windy breezes, and even (quite cute) rats face our urban nymphs as they nonchalantly roam in and out of Tohé Commaret’s mystical scenes of desolation.
Arca – Sola, Directed by Daniel Sannwald
Sola (aka alone in Spanish) finds Arca by herself. In the lens of Daniel Sannwald, Arca takes the shape of a priestess, bending and toying with her environment as plumes of pink smoke, shooting stars, and erupting balls of fire surround their maker. Alone and in full control, Arca sings “Déjame en paz/ No quiero más daños en el amor” (Leave me alone/ I don’t want more damage in love).
EQ – “B.S.A.S. (Si Alguna Vez te Sentís Sola de Noche)”, Directed by Ezequiel Calafell
We know EQ parties for and with the girls. In their music video for B.S.A.S. (Si Alguna Vez te Sentís Sola de Noche), the rising Buenos Aires-based duo let sequins, cigarettes, and sparkles fly wild through slow motion and ever-so-tight close-up frames. Directed by Ezequiel Calafell, the video reads like a fashion show gone rogue or a perfect moment forever paused. EQ’s vision is colourised, fleshed out, and begs to be left on repeat
TOKISCHA – Miami & Celos, Directed by Evadne Gonzalez and Residente
Tokischa delivers us sun-drenched sexual joy in her double feature for the two parallel tracks Miami & Celos. The Dominican rapper comes in raw and unreserved, detailing love, jealousy, and fervent retribution through vibrant colour grading and sweaty, sexy party girl energy. It’s a hot summer dream (or your ex’s nightmare) come to life.
Cero Ismeal – DRIVING ROUND LOOKING FOR UNKNOWN, Directed by Folkert Verdoorn & Simon Becks
Dark fairytale meets Napoleonic era meets a hint of steampunk futurism? Dutch musician Cero Ismeal brings full surrealism to his music video for DRIVING ROUND LOOKING FOR UNKNOWN. Though the video is only 4 and a half minutes long, it reads like a full anthology, following the tale of a strange creature transported through eerily serene cinematic realms.
Words by Gabriella Meshako
