Tigers Jaw reveals roller rink-themed video for 'Window' - premiere

It's a dose of roller skating nostalgia

Credit: Jimmy Fontaine

2017 was a big year for Tigers Jaw: the third-wave emo band returned just as a duo with their fifth album spin.

After the other members of the group disbanded in 2013 (save for putting together 2014's Charmer), Tigers Jaw is now the project of Ben Walsh and Brianna Collins.

On top of that, they made their first major label debut on producer Will Yip's imprint under Atlantic, Black Cement.

With three years of distance from their last project, band seems more confident in their sound and focused on putting out the same quality of emotionally-driven lyrics they always did.

Premiering below is the duo's video for "Window" - a palpable and poignant track that embodies the longing you feel for a connection you once had with someone.

In it, Walsh and Collins revel in the bright lights and excitement of a roller rink.

Watch the video here.

Q&A with Tigers Jaw

Tell me about the meaning behind the song "Window."

Ben: “Window” is about the strong connection you feel to someone else after your time together is long past. You are just getting through everyday life but everything feels different, and any reminders of that person can send your whole world spinning.

Why set the video in a roller rink?

Ben: We discussed themes of nostalgia and memory with director Kris Merc, as well as washed out lighting with purples, pinks, and blues, and we landed on a theme of “neon dream.” The vibe and lighting of an old school roller rink and arcade really matched the loneliness and longing of the song.

Brianna you did the styling and makeup for the video. Tell me about the significance of the looks.

Brianna: I was really inspired by the location of the roller rink and wanted the styling and makeup to be a mix of the '70s and '80s with some modern touches. My own personal style has been taking a lot from those eras lately, so it was fun to shop for everyone with that style in mind. I also asked the guys to bring some of their own clothes that they thought would work with what I was envisioning, so I was able to mix and match vintage and newer clothing styles.

How does "Window" fit into the context of your latest record?

Ben: “Window” is the closing song on “spin,” and sort of provides a summation of the themes of relationships and mental health found on the record. It has a steady verse that breaks into a big dynamic chorus and then comes down to a repetitive daze at the end to close out the record.

You guys have been a band for a long time - how have you seen the emo scene evolve? How have you had to evolve with it?

Ben: I think that people have realised that the label of “emo” music has been broadened and bands associated with it are pulling from a wider array of influences. The overall sincerity of the genre remains a constant, but bands have evolved and matured lyrically and musically. For us, we’ve been labelled different things by all different scenes and people. We’ve been called emo, indie rock, pop punk, alternative rock, etc. so we just keep making music we love and never dismissing any musical ideas because it doesn’t sound like what we’ve done in the past.

How would you like to see the emo scene change?

Ben: I think there are just so many under-appreciated bands that come from our world and it would just be great to see this music reach a wider audience. It would give so many talented artists from our generation a shot at becoming career musicians rather than touring nonstop to try and make some kind of living, and risking getting burnt out by being away from home so often.

Tigers Jaw are on a US tour now and will be touring the UK in April. Tickets and tour dates are available here.