Angus & Julia Stone have released a special music video for the title track of their new album, starring US actor Garrett Hedlund.
The beloved Australian duo announced Karaoke Bar last month, with their seventh studio album set to arrive on September 4th via Virgin Music.
The album was created across multiple locations in Greece, France, and Australia. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for the siblings, who have maintained a distinct style since the release of their debut EP Chocolates and Cigarettes and breakthrough album A Book Like This in 2007.
Angus & Julia Stone shared the title track to mark their album announcement, and they’ve now followed that up with one of their finest music videos to date.
Directed by Julia and starring Hedlund, the clip was filmed against the stunning backdrop of wild Tasmania, expanding on the attached track’s themes of human connection, vulnerability, and shared experience.
Hedland’s performance really brings the emotional heart of “Karaoke Bar” to life, capturing the quiet longing and fleeting connections that exist between strangers.
“I was heading to Australia and Julia asked, ‘Would you wanna fly to Tasmania and shoot this video for “Karaoke Bar” with me?’ And I said, ‘In a heartbeat,’ because I knew it would not only be an adventure, but it would undoubtedly be poetry,” Hedlund reveals. “Any time I’ve ever worked with Julia it’s just always been the raw epitome of what one wishes the creative process to be.”
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“I admire Julia’s instinct as a director. She has a deep understanding of storytelling, rhythm and emotion, and a rare ability to make the audience truly feel the tenderness in the work,” he adds.
Julia was only too happy to direct her long-time friend.
“Directing the music video for ‘Karaoke Bar’ was such a special experience,” she says. “At its heart, the song is about connection and the way music can bring people together. Garrett’s character starts out feeling separate from the world around him, like life is happening for everyone else but not quite for him. Then, through one small decision during the course of an ordinary day, he finds himself connected to a room full of strangers.
“Working with Garrett is a dream. He’s thoughtful, generous and brings a real honesty to everything he does. He brought so much depth and humanity to this character, and I couldn’t imagine a better person to have at the centre of this story.”
Hedlund’s versatility as an actor has shone through in roles in Friday Night Lights, Mudbound, Tulsa King, On the Road, and many more films and television shows. He can next be seen in the upcoming Unspeakable: The Murder of Jon Benet Ramsey.
Angus & Julia Stone, meanwhile, wrote their album’s title track while travelling abroad, reflecting on the feeling of a night out on the Greek Island of Hydra, near the former home of iconic singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen.
“It was a magical time on one of the strangest and most beautiful islands we’ve ever been to,” Angus previously recalled.
Angus & Julia Stone’s “Karaoke Bar” (title track) is out now. Karaoke Bar (album) is out September 4th via Virgin Music (pre-save/pre-order here).
