The power of nostalgia: 5 music videos from last year that are ultra-sentimental

Nostalgia and music always go hand in hand. Music has the power to transport us back into important particular moments in time we had once forgotten about, conjure up deep-seated feelings that we may be afraid to confront and open us up to new perspectives.

On top of that. the way music is presented to us visually amplifies this even more. Music videos are powerful tools that offer up further narratives that propel our connections with artists and their lyrics.

Trevor Hall is an artist whose music seeks to cut to the core of the human condition, unwrapping emotional stories of spirituality and social consciousness.

The modern folk troubadour is heading to Australia next month to play shows in Melbourne and Sydney along with a performance at Bluesfest’s 30^th Anniversary.

Hall will be making his way down under in celebration of his most recent full-length effort The Fruitful Darkness, so with that in mind, we’ve taken a look back on five of the best ultra-sentimental music videos from last year.

Trevor Hall – ‘MOON/SUN’

Trevor Hall’s penchant for highly emotional songcraft and his ability to deconstruct universal concepts shone through on his 2017 full-length The Fruitful Darkness.

In the video for ‘MOON/SUN’, Hall is seen contemplating the very core of our being amidst a slew of shiny constellations. The track features a repetitive guitar lick that sends us into a hypnotic state, perfectly set to a campfire on the beach – the ultimate setting for conjuring up serious feels.

“This single, MOON/SUN is a song of jubilation and a celebration of spirit. On this journey that we’re all on, sometimes we push love away. It’s the only thing we want, but still, we push it away.”

“MOON/SUN is about the eternal space of the heart. The space in your heart is never going away. No matter where you go, that love is always going to be there,” said Hall about the track.

The clip was directed by Taylor Cut Studios who’d previously worked alongside the likes of Usher, Justin Bieber and The Chainsmokers, and was filmed in one day on the beach in Santa Barbara, California.

Trevor’s album The Fruitful Darkness explores themes of spirituality, consciousness, Shamanism and deep internal exploration, shares many thematic similarities to the novel of the same name, written by Buddhist teacher Roshi Joan Halifax.

Trophy Eyes – ‘Friday Forever’

In 2018 Trophy Eyes truly transcended the meaning of what it meant to be a punk or hardcore act. On the track ‘Friday Forever’, frontman John Floreani sings of old friends who’ve shared the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

The music video takes us on a unique journey – dancing with abandon in an empty dance studio, leaving us yearning for that feeling of jubilation and carefreeness of youth.

It all sits perfectly over lyrics like “I’ll still be waiting if you ever get stuck” that are sure to end up tattooed on the arms of die-hard fans.

Beach House – ‘Drunk In LA’

Dream-pop is inherently sentimental and nostalgia conjuring, and Beach House are the undisputed kings of the genre. Sweeping us away under a haze of ethereal electronics and bleary-eyed soundscapes.

The video for ‘Drunk In LA’, of their excellent 2018 effort 7, the band muse on the past with lyrics like, “I had a good run playing horses in my mind, left my heart out somewhere running.”

The music video for the track is a psychedelic trip through LA, offering up images of palm trees and hacienda style houses to evoke you inner-most Hollywood fantasies.

Joyce Manor – ‘Think I’m Still In Love With You’

There’s nothing more nostalgia-drenched than an emo banger. Joyce Manor are the absolute reigning kings of teen-angst inspired anthems, and with ‘Think I’m Still In Love With You’ they show off what they do best.

In the video for the power-pop inspire jam, a couple is seen facing the trials and tribulations of the modern world, with flashbacks and memories encompassing the visually beautiful video.

Kacey Musgraves – ‘Butterflies’

Aside from releasing 2018’s definitive album Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves truly went all in with visuals during this era. ‘Butterflies’ is an ode to new found love – and the video will have you thrown all the way back to the very first time you locked eyes with your better half.