A Sign

Directed by Gavin Rothery, the video is a cinematic sci-fi odyssey that features Hatherley as a character named Traveller. It transforms the song — a personal breakup track — into a story of a heartbroken alien travelling through space and time in search of true love. Shot on Pett Level Beach in Hastings, England, the video depicts a far-flung oceanic world, complete with two suns and a ringed planet on the horizon.

Hatherley developed the androgynous look of the character with makeup artist Natasha Lawes, and the video was shot by Ivan Wood.

Speaking to Clash magazine on the videos release:

The video is striking, do you believe music and visuals come together to form one package?
I had the great fortune to work with director Gavin Rothery on his short film The Last Man and we’ve been collaborating ever since. I wanted the visuals to be as ambitious and cinematic as the music. If you get both right it can be a formidable combination.

What can you do in a video, say, that you can’t do in music?
The video expands a very personal break up song into the story of a heartbroken alien travelling through space and time looking for true love. With the right video and visuals you can enhance the music, add layers and colour to make it more powerful.

How involved were you in the video process?
It was a very collaborative effort with a small crew of people. Gavin Rothery and I developed the ‘look’ of the character, Traveller, with make up artist Natasha Lawes. UK clothes designer Jayne Pierson made the body suit. We filmed on Pett Level beach with a skeleton crew of Gavin, Natasha and brothers Ivan and Tim Wood.

How do you feel the finished result expands on the song?
Hopefully it takes those initial ideas of walking through the wilds of heartbreak into the cinematic sci-fi realm whilst retaining the melancholy sentiment of the lyrics.