China is home to the largest digital community in the world, with about 1.07 billion netizens as of 2023 (Reuters) - and has a "stunning lead" in 37 out of 44 critical and emerging technologies as Western democracies lose a global competition for research output, including metaverse and VR among others. Its technological penetration rate across generations is extremely high (The Australian Strategic Policy Institute ASPI)

It’s not easy for a local band to break through the glass roof of China's music scene. Covid-19 has destroyed the ecosystem that allows independent music to thrive; legendary venues have been closed, live performances canceled and sponsors have left in droves.

We wanted to empower a band we loved, Absolute Purity, with a striking music video aiming to raise more awareness for the band, and propel them faster on the national scene.

'Crime Fiction' is an unapologetically brash satire about a future humanity so consumed with advanced VR and the infinite possibilities of the metaverse that it has been totally subjugated to technology.

In this narrative dance film, we are transported to a future where people are disconnected from each other and consumed by virtual reality. The hero, a mother with a young baby, is suddenly disconnected from her headset and begins to dance, breaking free from the virtual world and reconnecting with her emotions. Encouraged by this newfound freedom, she seeks to liberate her roommates and baby and escape from her virtual prison. As she finally frees herself and her roommates, we understand that their escape wasn’t real. It was just another level of the simulation.

In a world where ChatGPT hits the earth like an asteroid, the music video is a dystopian narrative that critiques the total control that technology can have on society contrary to the initial promise of technology to be a liberation.

As French Renaissance writer, François Rabelais, said "Science sans conscience n’est que ruine de l’âme” [Science without conscience is nothing but the ruin of the soul] – We all have a responsibility when it comes to our relationship with innovation and technology. Especially here in China, where the technological penetration rate across generations is extremely high.

'Crime Fiction' was released on 22nd of February, 2023 on all major streaming platforms in mainland china and the rest of the world, and the music video can be viewed on all band's official social media channels (Wechat, Weibo, Bilibili, Youtube).

Named Music Video of the year at Shots Asia Pacific

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