For two decades, American band OK Go has redefined the power of music videos for the internet era. Ditching outrageous budgets for intricately choreographed concepts, the Grammy-winning quartet has found repeated viral success thanks to their innovative approach and authentic creativity.
As they neared the release of their fifth studio album, And the Adjacent Possible (their first new album in 10 years), the band wanted to create a unique visual experience that not only maintained their reputation for one-of-a-kind videos but also effectively ushered in a new era of music.
Leading the long-awaited album release was “Love,” inspired by the overwhelming sentiments of a father. Creating a killer music video for the track was no-brainer but for this momentous return, the band wanted to make a deeper connection with fans by giving them a rare inside look at their legendary creative process. They’ve never had an easy way to share it – until now, thanks to partnerships with Ray-Ban Meta Glasses and UR Robots.
To illustrate the song’s theme of expansive love, OK Go used mirrors that, when moved with precision by robots, created varying illusions of endless, expanded space. The robots were especially vital, moving the mirrors with the necessary precision to create breathtaking effects. Added fabrics and bouncing balls contributed to a kaleidoscopic explosion of color that complimented the track’s sunny tone and tempo.
To help bring the ambitious concept to life, production partnered with Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, which are featured prominently in the video by bassist Tim Nordwind. He isn’t just wearing the glasses for fashion. With a press of a button, Tim was able to capture the entire single-shot process from his perspective with the glasses for the video’s official behind-the-scenes (BTS) footage—which he managed to do without compromising the tight choreography. Timothy’s ability to seamlessly capture filming is especially notable, as the band has not previously had an easy way to share their award-winning creative process.
To ensure the most precise movement and interaction of each mirror, which varied in size, production used a mix of UR robots and industrial KUKA robots. The KUKA machines, which require more meticulous programming than their universal counterparts, were necessary for moving the larger mirrors. And the precise choreography was vital, as the entire video was captured in one take.