Sam Barnes - Daydream Driver

Sam Barnes – Daydream Driver | Video of the Week

Introducing Video of the Week from Wales Arts Review. We’ll be showcasing some of the best new art in Wales with a new video shared every week. From music to drama and everything in between, videos will not be limited by medium. Today we take a look at “Daydream Driver” from Sam Barnes.

If you’re looking for a bit of summer escapism, we have just the thing with the music video from songwriter and composer Sam Barnes with his new single ‘Daydream Driver’. The song is something of a sequel to Barnes’ stand-alone single ‘Wired World’ which was released by Rose Parade back in March. With psychy pop vibes and a sunny, surreal video created by Edith Morris, this new video showcases both Barnes’ musical talent and Morris’ creativity in bringing the video to life.

Barnes is a composer and songwriter from Cardiff and has worked across music, film, television and stage. His previous compositions have been used for the BBC & S4C (Hinterland / Y Gwyll, Hidden / Craith, Bregus), and National Theatre Wales (Iliad, Storm.1, Tide Whisperer), he also performs with Welsh band Boy Azooga.

Speaking on the new video, Barnes’ told God is in the TV:

The video explores the two meanings within the song – the very literal daydreaming driver, whose mind is in the clouds, and another where their every thought is controlled or driven by a machine-like system. It follows a lone driver, seemingly spaced out as he drives through increasingly exotic and psychedelic landscapes, before being plunged into a world of leech-like snails. We drew inspiration from American highway films such as Duel, as well as other films such as A Zed & Two Noughts, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, Vertigo, and some iconic Rene Magritte imagery – all within a sort of Gerry Anderson-like world.”

‘Daydream Driver’ is out now via Rose Parade Recording Co and is available on Spotify here. You can view more of Edith Morris’ work here.