Anna Parcerisas directs a dreamlike promo for London-based artist MAVICA, exploring themes of transition, release, and closure.

Nostalgic and ethereal in its aesthetic, embracing a sense of movement and dynamism, the video for Are You Back? treads the line between reality and fantasy, with a sense of disillusionment which is finally overcome by the end of the track. 

"I wanted to create distinct spaces in which the emotions of letting go, betrayal, and longing co-exist throughout the various stages of the lead character’s dream," says Parcerisas, who has namechecked says Maya Deren, Wong Kai Wai and Alain Resnais as her main cinematic influences in making the video.

"The music video mirrors the artist, Marta, as she enters a dream world where fragments of the unconscious mind are depicted," she continues. "To enhance the feeling of dread and surrealism, I employed the juxtaposition of objects. These include the enigmatic teddy bear, which symbolises remnants of our childhood, the fish tank, and the recurring key. The key and the underwater tank represent repression and the feeling of being trapped, while also embodying the possibility of escape and progression to the next stage of the dream.

"Additionally, I aimed to incorporate a sense of women's support, energy, and empowerment through a ritualistic movement before reaching the conclusion of the song, where Marta is prepared to let go and move forward without looking back.

"The final shot of the teddy bear engulfed in flames has been a powerful image in my mind since the project's inception. It serves as a clear representation of burning and releasing any emotional baggage from the past that we may carry with us."