Interpol have released the video for powerhouse new single, ‘The Rover‘, taken from their forthcoming Dave Fridmann-produced new album, Marauder, out August 24th on Matador Records / Rhythmethod.
Since its release on June 9th, ‘The Rover’ has been streamed over 2 million times on Spotify, performed live on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, played during the Spain vs. Russia World Cup game(go to the 1:31:12 marker) and filmed live by the BBC at TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow.
Watch the video below.
The video was shot on-location in Mexico City in June, during a whirlwind journey where Interpol announced their new album via a livestreamed press conference – only to be unexpectedly interrupted halfway through by a mysterious figure played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Girls, The Punisher), capturing the attention of fans and media alike. Today, the mystery has finally been revealed with the release of the video directed by Gerardo Naranjo (Narcos, The Bridge) – giving further context to the elusive cult-like character, ‘The Rover’ himself, blurring the line between documentary and fever dream in a heady montage of psychedelic, hedonistic adventures with his young followers, ‘Los Locos,’ in tow, as they ‘rove’ through the pulsing Distrito Federal.
Vocalist/guitarist Paul Banks says: “I like to describe the video for ‘The Rover’ as a prequel. It’s the origin story of the character described in the song, the birth of a cult leader. When we meet him he is partly unhinged. He’s a man on the verge, an artist subjected to great pressures, and beset with existential frustrations. A distracted hipster who enjoys psychedelics, let’s say.
The events that take place in Mexico City, be it a bump on the head, a visit to a shaman, or the influence of his rescuers (the street gang known as ‘Los Locos’) trigger the birth – the eruption – of this new figure, ‘The Rover.’ His rescuers become his first followers.
In the end of the video he exacts his ‘revenge’ on Interpol with a mischievous act of disruption during the press conference. He grabs me by the head – to save me? Forgive me? Or simply as a gesture of his new independence – the butterfly becoming.”
