Crystal Fighters have just revealed the video for their new single ‘Lay Low’ – a song dedicated to the band’s drummer, Andrea Marongiu, who sadly passed away two years ago. The animated video is a colourful and heartwarming adaptation of life, friendship and universal connection.
“Lay Low was inspired by the passing of our brother and drummer, Andrea Marongiu, and the main singalong came from an impromptu backstage chant, at one of our final shows together,” says Graham Dickson. “Andrea brought Crystal Fighters alive when he joined the family with his phenomenally skillful drumming, and immeasurably lifted the spirit of the band, and whoever crossed his path, as one of the kindest and most charismatic gentlemen out there.
“This song is about looking after your friends and family; it’s about taking the time to try and leave a positive impact on earth every day, as if it’s your last. It’s about remembering to hug and high five your friends every time you see them, and to take the time to appreciate every moment we are given here on this beautiful planet. With this song we pay homage to the miracle of the known, the mystery of the unknown, and our limited time within it. We couldn’t be happier to release this video today, with everything going on in the world right now, and hope it brings you joy and inspiration.”
“The video was made with a small group of talented people at our studio in Berlin, using traditional methods such as, stop motion, puppets and handmade miniature sets,” adds Director, Wayne McCauslin. “The vision came about after speaking to Graham and referencing the marvellous ‘Power of 10’ video, where we see the journey from the smallest thing in the universe to the biggest. And from that initial idea, I wanted to give the video a narrative and reflect the songs emotiveness and what it evoked in me. A sort of visual metaphor for how life has its changes and processes.”
‘Lay Low’ is taken from Crystal Fighters’ current album, Everything Is My Family, which is out now via Play It Again Sam. The album embodies their ecstatic lust for life and, as Bast says, “is more dancefloor, more psychedelic, more tropical, more rave, more sunshine, more pretty much everything” than anything they have done before.
The band have set up a foundation in Andrea’s name – The Andrea Marongiu Drumming Bursary – and fans have already donated over £11k. Furthermore, McCauslin has kindly agreed to donate six puppets used in the ‘Lay Low’ video, to be sold through the Crystal Fighters merch store, with all proceeds being donated to The Eternal Beat, a charity foundation set up in memory of Andrea.
Renowned for their spectacular live shows, the band have just been announced as headliners at Secret Garden Party playing alongside Metronomy, Wild Beasts and Honne.