For the latest video from American-New Zealand rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra, director James Lees teamed up with choreographer Kianí Del Valle for a balletic lovers’ tussle through the desert. Here, the Berlin-based choreographer talks about the idea behind the film:
“With ‘First World Problem’ I aimed to create a dialogue between two art forms—film and music. I wanted the video to be a response to the band’s lyrics and musical melodies, rather than showing literally what the song is saying.
“I am a big fan of silent films and how unspoken language can add a second layer to speech.”