On the morning of Thursday, April 15th, independent artist and producer Lauv dropped the official music video in support of his Top 40 hit single “Modern Loneliness”. SPOILER ALERT: In this article we analyze the message of the song, and how Lauv conveys that message through the video’s own plot line and unconventional videography. With social distancing policies still active, he provides a detailed portrayal of what many of us currently struggle with regarding our relationships. If you have not watched the video just yet, we highly recommend you do prior to reading for better context. 

Following the release of his second studio album “how i’m feeling” on March 6th, Lauv has consistently kept his audience fed with new content during the nationwide quarantine. With Instagram posts, stories, Tik Toks, livestream concerts and even an unofficial song release, the young musician has proven to be making the most out of his time at home and is continuously nurturing his creativity with the limited resources he has at his disposal. This most recent project was evidently made throughout his time in quarantine, as the video is a vertical compilation of clips from his phone screen recordings, however it perfectly portrays the message of the song through a story that seems all too familiar to us. 

Many relationships are now relying on texts, phone calls, video chats, and social media to stay alive rather than the usual physical interactions throughout normal everyday life. Without the mutual effort from both sides, it can be difficult to maintain that connection. “Modern Loneliness” serves as the perfect representation of these emotions and struggles, and the video only does more to help get Lauv’s message across. 

So what exactly is Lauv’s message, and how can we apply it to our lives? First and foremost, direct interaction and interpersonal connection provides us with more fulfillment than any social media platform can. The small bursts of serotonin that we derive from Instagram likes cannot compare to the happiness one can receive from a nice conversation with a loved one. Social media is not personal, therefore, direct interaction can provide us with the social satisfaction that we all need. However, maintaining relationships and interpersonal connection is much easier when done physically. Since most of us are confined to our homes due to the coronavirus, we cannot rely on this luxury, so we turn to social media. It is easy and provides us with instant gratification, but the sensation does not last. Therefore, Lauv encourages us to make the extra effort to reach out through phone calls, texts, and video chats despite how difficult and unnatural it may feel. If we are willing to go the extra mile and maintain personal connections through the technology we have, we will be able to persist through these difficult times together, and reduce the feeling that Lauv calls “modern loneliness.”