This document provides analysis of the music videos for 5 indie songs: M83's "Midnight City", The Lumineers' "Ho Hey", Passion Pit's "Little Secrets", Don Broco's "Priorities", and Coldplay's "Paradise". Each analysis section covers the sound, camerawork, editing, and mise-en-scene of the respective music video. Common conventions across the indie music video genre include narrative-based storytelling inspired by films, natural lighting, and a cinematic visual style with titles and credits.

1. Indie Artists Music Video
Conventions
By Molly Perryman

2. M83 – Midnight City
Computer generated
images.
Natural light
shining through a
high up window.
Light rays through
dust to emphasis
abandoned
warehouse.
Out of focus
background.
Dark
lit
room.
The children are
stood separately
showing a variety
of heights.
The
children are
shown to
have
powers.
Midnight City by M83 is an indie synth pop song
that reached spot number 2 in the UK indie charts.
The music video for ‘Midnight City’, directed by
Fleur & Manu, is about telekinetic children who
come fully alive at night, escaping their boarding
school to experiment with their powers.
The video is a tribute to the Japanese Manga
‘Akira’ which is set in a post-apocalyptic neo-Tokyo
and explores the themes of social isolation,
corruption and power. The video is also a tribute to
the films ‘Village Of The Dammed’ & ‘Close
Encounters Of The Third Kind’
The music video doesn’t completely match the
song lyrics by lyric but the feel of the song
matches the images on screen.
This video is completely narrative based.
The title of the song relates to how the children
come alive at night – cities can be busy with lights
and people at night which is what the children
experience with each other when the sun goes
down.

3. Sound
Midnight City has an atmospheric
space feel to it which helps
exaggerate the sci-fi theme of the
video.
The song also sounds victorious
which gives it a positive vibe as
well as being quite powerful.
Camera
There are many close ups of the
children’s faces to show their
expressions of loneliness despite
there being many long shots
where the children are all
together. The focusing on the
camera usually shows a child in
focus with the background blurred
until near the end when the sun
rises the children are blurred to
show the sun setting is really
important.
Editing
Computer generated images play
the most important part in this
video as it shows the children as
having powers – telekinesis .
Without the CGI, we wouldn’t be
able to see that the children can
levitate objects using their minds
nor we will be able to see their
eyes glow up bright blue when the
sun goes down.
The length of each shot are longer
than an average music video and
has a lot of slow motion frames
which show how the children feel.
Mise En Scene
The locations used are large
spaces that don’t contain many
large objects. We can see that the
children are living in some kind of
boring boarding school probably
because of their powers which the
average person would think their
powers were abnormal. The
children break down the door to
run away to an abandoned
warehouse in which the practise
their powers. The warehouse is
much like the boarding school but
the chose to go there.
CGI
glowing
eyes when
sun goes
down.
Two shot
to show
both
children
are
waiting
for sun to
go down.
Bright
light –
meant to
be the
children’s
eyes at
night.
Purple colours
match album cover.
Long shadows
– quite alien-
like.
Title of the song and artist
name with credits of people
involved – film-like.

4. The Lumineers – Ho Hey
‘Ho Hey’ is an indie folk song by the American
folk rock band ‘The Lumineers’. The song
reached spot number 8 in the UK’s singles
charts and the song has been used in many
British adverts and TV shows.
The music video for ‘Ho Hey’ was directed by
Ben Fee and shows the band walking around
a light bulb lit building, playing instruments
and singing until they enter a room full of
loads of other people having fun.
The soft lighting of the video matches the
genre and feel of the song as it warm and
welcoming. The video doesn’t really tell a
story because it’s performance based.
The props used help set the theme to the
song but still there isn’t a definite narrative
going on.
Bright,
natural
light.
Glowing
light
bulbs.
Lots of
shadows.
Folk
fashion.
Props and fashion feels as
if the video is set in the
past.

5. Stained glass
windows.
Multi-coloured confetti
matches windows.
Smashing a
light bulb.
Shadows of
silhouettes.
One light creating
shadows.
Sound
‘Ho Hey’ has a gentle feel to it
as it is acoustic but also has a
crowd participation element to
it with the ‘Ho’ and ‘Hey’ and
the floor stomps.
It sounds very folk and sounds
like it would be played around a
camp fire which would also
have a warm glow like the light
bulbs used.
Camera
There is a lot of long length
shots that track and pan.
The first shot is a sideways track
of light bulbs hanging from a
wall for the camera to the pan
to the artist walking towards the
camera in which the camera for
then the camera to track
backwards.
There are a lot of close ups that
show people smiling and the
when the focus of the camera is
on someone, the lights in the
background have a bokeh effect.
Editing
The main editing techniques
used in this video are cuts on
the beat and a flash effect used
as transition into the next shot.
The length of each shot are
quite long – the first two shots
are about 20 seconds each.
There is a slow motion shot of
when the front man stomps
onto the light bulb.
The shots of when there are
more people that have joined
the group are also in a slow
motion to match the tempo of
the song.
Mise En Scene
The main props for the video are
the warm lighting created by
many light bulbs. This enhances
the warm feeling to the song
and this prop is always shown
until the front man of the band
smashes one of the bulbs. The
main prop is then roses on the
ceiling then multi-coloured
confetti to show a celebration.
The stained glass windows
match the colours of the
confetti but also look like they
are in a church as that is where
stained glass windows are
usually used.

6. Passion Pit – Little Secrets
Passion Pit are an American electro indie pop
band that are not very known in the UK although
they have played at many British rock festivals on
little stages.
Their song ‘Little Secrets’ has two music videos –
one of them directed by Francesco Meneghini
and released in November 2009 which is based
on a Stargate sequence from 2001: A Space
Odyssey. And the other is the one I am analysing.
This video was directed by Timothy Saccenti and
was premiered in February 2010.
This video shows an audience with paper bags
on their heads with sad faces on. As the band
plays, the sad faces become happy faces then
eventually the bags come off. The audience are
having fun dancing in confetti for them then to
turn into confetti themselves at the end.
The video is clever as there is a narrative that
isn’t distinct but you pick up what is happening as
you are watching. The main focus is the crowd
but there are a few performance shots included
for the story of the video.
Through
the eyes
of an
‘audience
member’
going
shopping
to get a
paper
bag for
the
concert.
Out of
focus
around the
edges.
Private
alley
way –
dark,
graffiti.
Bright
light
through
doorway.
‘Audience
Member’
from the
shop.
Light
behind
makes
shadows
in front.

7. Sound
‘Little Secrets’ is very electronic
with light sounds and high
sounding vocals. This makes it
quite edgy because of all the
high pitch sounds.
There is also a gospel choir
singing ‘higher and higher’ on
the chorus which makes the
song sound like a celebration
and with using confetti it looks
like a celebration which is
similar to ‘The Lumineers’ ‘Ho
Hey’ video.
Camera
There are a variety of camera
shots used in this video, the
main one being close ups of
both the band and the audience.
There are some canted angles
and long shots but the majority
of shots are mid shots or tilts or
sideways track along the
audience.
The camera usually does a pull
focus on the band but not so
much the audience.
Editing
The first shot in the
supermarket has an blur effect
around the outside to make it
seem as we are looking through
the eyes of a person.
In the shot where the lady
dressed in contrasting colours is
opening the door, CGI is used to
make the door way glow bright
white so we can’t see what is
on the other side of the door.
A lot of the shots are in slow
motion- especially the confetti
so we can see the colours and
movement of it. There are many
slow motion close ups of the
lady’s face as she is the main
member of the audience we are
connected with.
Mise En Scene
The main part of the video is set
in a large hall space which looks
like a ware house. The lighting is
very dark but the main light is
coming from behind the stage
which gives the band shadowy
faces. The video gradually gets
more colourful by using
colourful outfits and bright
coloured confetti. The paper
bags on the audiences heads are
a weird way to show the change
of expression within the
audience but it shows how the
audience start quite isolated and
shy to being together and happy.
Confetti cannon – slow
motion.
Bright
lighting
.
Shadow
on
faces.
More
colours,
paper
bag
faces
happy.

8. Don Broco - Priorities
The video for Don
Broco’s ‘Priorities’
has a gangster/con
artist theme and
opens with
introducing the band
in still shots with
their names.
This seems to be a
reoccurring theme within
the indie genre to have a
mini film style music
video by using traditional
conventions of movies
eg. Film style openings,
titles of the song/artist
and credits.
Many indie rock music videos seem to have inspiration from
their favourite films or television shows.

9. Don Broco are an English Indie/Alt-rock band that
formed in 2008. They have released one albums and 3
EPs and have toured with bigger UK & US bands such
as You Me At Six and The Used.
The video for Priorities show the band and their friend
planning a robbery but their friend is more interesting in
texting his girlfriend. The girlfriend is waiting for the friend
with pizza so he leaves, the band carry on planning.
When they go to carry out the robbery, the girlfriend turns
up to arrest them and catches the friend first – she is
actually part of the police force and was waiting for them
to do the robbery to catch them as they’ve already
committed a crime before.
The video is half performance and half narrative but both
are mainly set in a big, dark ware house lit with bright
white lights on the walls.
Band & mate
planning
robbery – back
lights out of
focus.
The
mate is distracted by mobile.
Girlfriend waiting with pizza – out of focus.
Wearing dark clothing.
Police
station.
Bright
light to
show
faces.
They’ve been arrested
for committing a crime.

10. Sound
‘Priorities’ is the least sounding
indie song out of the ones I
have chosen to analyse because
of the timing of the intro and
verses. This song is a lot heaver
rock than the others but the
video has similar elements to
others I have researched.
The dark lighting in a
warehouse suits the dark
sounds and tones of the song.
Camera
There are many pans and arcs
going one shot after the next
which feels like there is constant
motion happening.
There are a few long shots
which show them all together to
show us how they act together
depending on the situation.
There are many close up and
mid shots of the girlfriend so we
can identify her later on as the
police officier.
Editing
The length of each shot are
quite short. The video starts
with an establishing shot of the
warehouse then it cuts to close
ups of the band in quick cuts.
The narrative then kicks in with
an introduction of the band
using still shots of them on a
red background with big, bold
yellow letters showing their
name. The frame holds for a
split second before more action.
The frame showing ‘The Mate’
is the last one to show and
takes a lot longer to show he is
obviously holding them up.
Many slow motion shots are
used.
Mise En Scene
The dark warehouse with bright
white lights gives the feel a bit
mysterious which suits the notes
used in the song. The band and
mate are dressed in dark, smart
clothes when planning the crime
but are dressed in jeans and
plain coloured shirts and t-shirts
in the performance shots to
show the different scenes.
When trying to commit the
robbery, the band are wearing
Richard Nixon masks which
American dramas use people in
masks as criminals.
Same white lights. In suits, ready to commit crime.
The girlfriend is actually a
police officer and a tease.

11. Coldplay - Paradise
Coldplay’s ‘Paradise' opens like a movie with the company name followed by the director, then
the stars ‘Coldplay’ in the title ‘Paradise’. The borders in the video make the whole video
cinematic as this is exactly what they were aiming for.

12. Coldplay are a British indie/alternative rock band that formed
back in 1996. The song ‘Paradise’ was released in 2011 and was
nominated for a Grammy award but won the MTV’s best rock
music video in 2012.
‘Paradise’ got to number 1 in four different countries including the
UK and the song has been played on many UK television adverts
and shows and was the anthem for the London Para-Olympics.
The music video was directed by Matt Whitecross and written by
Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
The video is about a man dressed as an elephant (Chris Martin),
who is shown to escape the zoo to go back to where he belongs
(Africa).
The journey involves riding a bike to a tube station in London to
then get to the airport. Once at the airport, the elephant sneakily
jumps onto a plane and arrives jumping out of a suitcase. The
elephant is then shown busking for a second time, holding pieces
of cardboard with song lyrics on to get some money. With the
money he earns, the elephant tries to buy a bike but only has
enough for a unicycle. The elephant then rides the unicycle into
the Grasslands of Africa and eventually find his friends (the rest
of the band). The video then ends with the band playing live at
one of their shows with the elephant heads and hands on.
The video is mainly narrative with the bit of performance at the
end.
Blurred around the edges
(similar to Passion Pit video)
Begging in the London Underground.
Riding a bicycle.
Traditional
London
Telephone Box.

13. Begging
again.
Grafiiti – not as clean
as London
Busy
tube
train.
Not busy
train
track.
Hiding in
suitcase
– not
enough
money
to fly
normally.
Wants to
buy this
bike –
not
enough
money
so rides
a
unicycle.
African
Grasslands.
Natural light instead of underground lights.

14. Sound
‘Paradise’ is a soft electronic song
that also feels atmospheric.
The song is quite gentle and can be
victorious on the chorus’s.
The images go well with the song
especially when the elephant
reaches Africa and the lighting is
natural sun set – it makes the
warmness and meaning of the video
shine through.
Camera
The first sequence is a mixture of
long, mid and close up shots. The
pace is very fast and there are a
couple of tracking and extreme long
shots.
The pace slows down on the verses
when the elephant in standing in the
underground holding the cardboard
with lyrics on. There are also a few
helicopter shots to show the plane
flying to the destination.
Editing
The editing is a very fast pace at the
beginning to show the elephant
wants to go back home because he
is missing his friends as he has been
tallying each day that goes by.
Once the elephant reaches the tube
station, there is a blur effect around
the outside of the frame when he is
waiting on the escalators which
draws our attention away from him
for a second to recognise that he is
going down to the underground.
There are many jump cuts when he
is begging by holding cardboard with
lyrics on which is repeated when he
gets to Africa. There are a couple of
flash transitions especially near the
end when the performance shot
leads back to the elephants running
in slow motion towards the camera.
Mise En Scene
The locations used are recognisable
as in the City scenes we can see it is
London because of the telephone
box and the underground. We can
also tell the elephant arrives in
Africa because of the background
and the giraffe the elephants
encounters. The elephant suit is the
most obvious clue to where we
know he is going. The bike and
unicycle shows the difference
between the 2 places as it shows
how rich England is but in Africa it is
poorer but the elephant would still
rather go back to where he belongs
even though he learns he can’t have
everything he wants.
Performing live.
African wildlife.
Sunset -Natural light. Shadowed
faces.

15. What I have learnt about the conventions in
indie rock music videos.Sound
Sound is different for every song because of the song writers but songs that sound similar may both have a certain feel that they are
trying to get across in their video. This is when videos of the same genre have a lot in common.
Camera
The length of the shot varies depending on the tempo of the song or if you want to create relaxation or panic in the video.
In ‘Paradise’ the tempo is relatively slow like ‘Ho Hey’ but ‘Paradise’ uses very fast paced editing at the start to show the panic and
frustration of the elephant escaping. The pace then slows down as the video goes on to end up using slow motion. The most
common types of shots I’ve noticed are either close ups of faces/hands or long shots of people together. The least common camera
shots shown were angles and tilts. Pan and tracking are used a fair amount and arcing is the main camera shot used in Don Broco’s
‘Priorities’.
Mise En Scene
Lighting, props and outfit are the most important thing I’ve noticed being used in indie music videos.
Each video had a main lighting they were using; ‘Ho Hey’ had a soft, warm glow from light bulbs which had a similar effect to the
natural sun set lighting in ‘Paradise’ and both songs are of a similar tempo.
‘Priorities’, ‘Midnight City’ & ‘Little Secrets’ all had dark lighting with a main source of light from a certain direction.
One of the most common effects with the lighting which was heavily demonstrated in ‘Little Secrets’ and a bit in ‘Ho Hey’ and
‘Paradise’ was the light being behind them so their faces are shadowed and they look like silhouettes with long shadows in front of
them.
The location is very important and we can tell that ‘Paradise’ had the most budget to be filming in London and flying to Africa to film
but for the artists with less money, an empty warehouse seems to be the perfect place to use (as shown in ‘Priorities’, ‘Midnight City’
& ‘Little Secrets’.
Outfits and props are used heavily to exaggerated the genre or story of the video. We needed to see props being levitated in
‘Midnight City’ to understand the children were telekinetic etc.
Editing
The most common editing technique apart from cutting in these music videos were slow motion shots. This emphasised the
enjoyment of the performance or to show the expressions of the people. The pace of editing is really important if you are trying to
create an effect and the slow motion is generally used to match the tempo of the song too. Transitions weren’t used very much apart
from the flash transition which usually shown a change in location. Titles were used in 3 of the 5 videos I analysed which gave them
a movie like feel.