Music video is a dying art, they declared. What used to be an integral part of the artistry and promotion of the release cycle has now become jumbled in the heaps of lo-fi, lo-effort productions, coupled with aimless “visualisers” and behind-the-scenes clips made for TikTok. If it’s not dying, we’re starting to think the art is barely holding onto the wires to keep itself alive. But the first quarter of 2026 has been shifting the mood a little, with artists releasing music videos that actually make us want to keep watching.

“Bila Aku Xde” by ChronicalZ ft. Noh Salleh

We don’t talk enough about how Chronicalz sampled Bila Aku Sudah Tiada for his new track “Bila Aku Xde”. Here, he raps about existential dread inside a tight coffin while lighting a smoke, later walking over dollar notes, with a creepy, bloodied angel of death (?) serving face beside him. The track fuses a classic indie rock staple with questions of mortality and somehow makes it look so much cooler in a music video.

“Driving Lessons” by Amrita Soon

In the music video for her single “Driving Lessons” singer-songwriter Amrita Soon drives through memories of her grandfather, who taught her how to drive and ferried her from childhood to adulthood. The memories jump quickly from one to another, a reminder of how fast loss arrives. It’s an easy tearjerker. And it’s what this poignant song very much needs.

“KUALA LUMFLOW” by Dannqrack & Eemrun

The most frustrating thing about this duo is they released their album MENARA BERKEMBAR too late in 2025 that the greatness fell into whispers instead of the loud noise it very much deserves. To much surprise, the music video for the lead single “KUALA LUMFLOW” finally dropped in March, perhaps hinting that the album’s post-rollout has just begun. Either way, we’re happy that it’s finally happening. Don’t let the hype die down.

“戒煙戒酒戒色STRAIGHT-EDGE” by S.A.C 東南亞華人

S.A.C returns this year with a new EP, and the Johor-based group doesn’t disappoint. Staying true to their focus on working-class struggles, their new track “戒煙戒酒戒色STRAIGHT-EDGE” has them rapping inner monologues about staying celibate, quitting smoking and quitting drinking. The peer pressure is intense, the adulthood expectations hit harder but the real battle is with oneself. With old hotels and malls as backdrops, the struggle feels extra real in this one.

“Wak Nyaknyo” by No Good

No Good have reached the kind of punk stature most bands only hope for: crossing into the mainstream while still critiquing the very systems that platform them. With Kelantan pride running through meme culture — complaints, jokes, contradictions — “Wak Nyaknyo” sharpens that identity into satire. Starring Nam Ron as a corrupt politician, the video leans into complicity: not just the figure, but the people who enable him. It lands too close to home, no matter where you’re from or who’s in charge.

“Just A Boy” by The Peachskins

Taking cues from Sabrina Carpenter’s glittery cowboy aesthetics and sardonic, cutesy humour, The Peachskins channel a similar energy in their new album. In the music video for “Just A Boy”, cowboy hats, yellow italicised subtitles and lines like “manipulator” and “gaslighter” define the tone. The video oozes Carpenter’s vibes, just without the mega-scale production. Still, it’s a reminder: indie pop bands are having fun again.

“Satu Bunga” by Teman Lelaki & Aziem Rashidi

Not sure how Nam Ron appears in this list twice, but his acting chops obviously mean he deserves it. Here, in “Satu Bunga” by Teman Lelaki and Aziem Rashidi, he plays out a quiet reunion between former lovers in a bookstore. We won’t spoil the ending, but the video understands something simple: love is grand and it lasts longer than you expect it to. And this music video freezes that timelessness best.

“Locket” by ira4ma

A new ira4ma drop, and it’s nowhere near disappointing. This time, her lo-fi music video still strengthens her underground hyperpop aesthetics but she’s no longer stuck inside her room lip-syncing alone. Out in the open with the KL skyline as her backdrop and a couple of friends, the saccharine beats feel even more fun this time around. Like, so much more fun.

“Penyayang” by Hawa

Having one of the best songs off Hawa’s debut album directed by multidisciplinary artist Ridhwan Saidi and Eff Hakim herself feels like a dream come true. The visual aesthetics mirror the longing to be loved properly even when love itself already presents the answers. You feel the gloom and insecurity in the red-lit darkness, but hope gleams through the vivid lights just as strongly.

“#TWEAK!” by Shilky ft. Izhar

A fun song deserves an equally fun-as-hell music video, right? That’s exactly what Shilky, a Slatan member, delivers for “#TWEAK!”, featuring Izhar and zaigotthatmagic. They glide around basketball courts like it’s an old-school hangout, layered with playful visuals and Slatan 0108’s signature blue flag energy. It brings fun back into music videos like we should be having.