Despite transitioning to a new season, winter will be frozen in time through these music videos.
Winter became the season for anticipated releases, and, accompanying these projects were creative music visuals. Featuring artists across genres, the new year began on a strong note with intricate storytelling and era-defining music videos, preparing the stage for a fresh music chapter.
Keep reading to know more about the Daily Bruin’s picks for this quarter’s iconic videos.
“Stateside” by PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson
As prophesied, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s iconic collab made headlines this winter.
Following the release of their viral “Stateside” remix last September, the pop singers unveiled an accompanying music video Jan. 15, which has now amassed more than 34 million views. The track was featured on PinkPantheress’ remix project “Fancy Some More?,”a three-disc album in which she brought on new musicians to reimagine her May 2025 mixtape, “Fancy That.” With their music video, she and Larsson play with this concept visually, blending each other’s well-known aesthetics into one captivating combo.
The video features the musicians as mannequins in their own stores, “Fancy That” for PinkPantheress and “Midnight Sun” for Larsson, named after the Swedish singer’s most recent record. Each storefront captures their respective styles, with red tartan walls in one and teal sequin detailing in another. To end, the two fully dive into each other’s worlds, swapping looks and joining forces to dance together for a postcard-worthy moment.
By combining their star power, PinkPantheress and Larsson may have cemented themselves in music video history.
– Victoria Munck
[Related: Oscars 2026: Daily Bruin predicts the 98th Academy Award for Best Picture]
“Excavator” by Don Toliver
With the groundbreaking track “Excavator,” Don Toliver is digging deep into success.
As part of his new album OCTANE, released Jan. 30, Toliver’s “Excavator” is featured as the 13th track on the LP. Located in the San Gabriel Mountains, the music video is set at the 100-year-old Mount Wilson Observatory, a hub of scientific history and innovation in Los Angeles. Surrounded by various scientists, the video features Toliver dancing and turning the observatory into a vibrant space of energy and excitement.
With Don Toliver’s career rapidly growing – as shown by OCTANE debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 – “Excavator” serves as a manifestation of Toliver’s increasing success. While Toliver boastfully sings about the current state of his career, marked by excess money, popularity and lust, the use of scientific equipment – such as telescopes – in the video represents a futuristic approach to his career.
Working as a metaphor for his career, the music video highlights both Toliver’s insurmountable success and drive to continue growing as a top artist.
– Daniela Fogliano
“The Great Divide” by Noah Kahan
There’s no divide about Noah Kahan’s newest music video.
Released on YouTube on Feb. 1, the “The Great Divide” music video shows a reunion between Kahan and a former friend at a gas station, an unexpected encounter interspersed with interactions between their childhood and teenage selves. Images of driving, gas stations and fields are present throughout the video as Kahan juxtaposes his past and current selves. Collaborating with director Parker Schmidt, the artist creates an environment rife with nostalgia and lost innocence. Speaking to British GQ, Kahan said he found inspiration for the single by reflecting on an estranged friendship.
“The Great Divide” is the lead single for Kahan’s new album of the same name – a highly anticipated follow-up to his award-winning “Stick Season” from 2022. The upcoming LP features 17 tracks and is slated to be an exploration of masculinity and friendship. Kahan’s album is accompanied by a 23-stop tour, which begins June 11 in Orlando, Florida, and concludes Aug. 31 in Seattle, Washington.
With stunning visuals and lyricism, the divide isn’t the only great thing about Kahan’s music video.
– Julia Kinion
[Related: Video game preview: From life simulators to horror, winter’s releases bring cozy fun to gamers]
“Opalite” by Taylor Swift
“Life is a song, it ends when it ends,” but Taylor Swift’s music videos are forever.
The “Opalite” music video led to the singer’s 14th No. 1 hit after premiering on Spotify and Apple Music on Feb. 6 and dropping on YouTube two days later. Shot on film, dripping in neon and evoking the playful spirit of the ‘90s, Swift brought the hopelessly romantic lyricism of “Opalite” to life brilliantly.
The music video was born out of Swift’s appearance on “The Graham Norton Show” last October, when actor and fellow guest Domhnall Gleeson joked that he hoped he could get into one of her music videos. Gleeson, Norton and the other night’s stars – Greta Lee, Cillian Murphy and Jodie Turner-Smith – all make appearances in the video where the titular “Opalite” is revealed to be a magical potion spray that plays matchmaker for Gleeson and Swift’s characters as they go “dancing through the lightning strikes” together.
In true “showgirl” fashion, the visuals for the latest Swift era have yet to disappoint.
– Kiara Mack
“Risk It All” by Bruno Mars
“You could set the bar beyond the stars” and Bruno Mars’ latest tracks certainly have.
The music video for “Risk It All” was released on YouTube on Feb. 26 alongside Mars’ newest album “The Romantic” on Feb. 27. Although the singer has been consistently releasing No 1. Singles – such as “APT.” featuring ROSÉ and “Die With A Smile” featuring Lady Gaga – “The Romantic” is his first album in almost a decade. Since then, Mars has traded the funky, champagne-popping showmanship of “24K Magic” for the intimate, melodic slow-burn of “The Romantic.”
Directed by Mars and Daniel Ramos, the video follows a wedding – from the bride walking down the aisle, the exchanging of vows with Mars singing lyrics as declarations of love, to whisking her away to the strikingly blue “just married” car. This blue is also shown in the solo shots of Mars singing and playing his acoustic guitar, which are interspersed between scenes of Mars and his wife living in domestic bliss and growing old together. With the striking colors and wedding imagery, this music video illustrates the ultimate theme of “Risk It All:” a sunny, vibrant celebration of love.
Although Mars sings to capture the heart of his lover, he undeniably captured the hearts of his audience.
— Brooke Reilly