MUSE's Muses

What makes music-video magic? For Sia, it’s a blonde wig and a certain tiny dancer. For Carrie Underwood, Shaping Sound plus a shallow pool of water did the trick. Megan Trainor utilized the magnificent powers of Les Twins—plus lots and lots of lips. Are you sensing a pattern here? Dancers make music videos AWESOME.

British rock band MUSE is the latest musical entity to capitalize on this fact, with their magical formula combining dancers Kathryn McCormick and Will Wingfield, choreographer Tessandra Chavez, a ton of chalk dust and suuuper creepy contact lenses.

(L to R) McCormick, Chavez and Wingfield on the set of MUSE’s “Dead Inside” (photo via Instagram)

The resulting music video, “Dead Inside,” is deliciously dark and creepy—and somehow, it managed to exceed our already high expectations. Chavez’s choreography expertly walks the line between musical and abrasive, effective and emotionless. And both dancers do that choreography justice, perfectly embodying a possessed, contorted and somehow hauntingly beautiful quality throughout. The excellent camera work doesn’t hurt either (shout out to director Robert Hales).

We were particularly impressed with McCormick’s transformation. Sure, she’s no stranger to being a choreographer’s muse (pun intended)—but this project strays so far from the beautiful tragic heroine she often portrays. Guys, Kathryn gets evil. This face may or may not show up in my nightmares tonight, and I’m totally OK with that.

OK, maybe I’m not so OK with that… (photo via Instagram)

I think it’s past time I stopped gushing and let you guys experience this beautiful monster for yourselves. Enjoy! (And maybe sleep with a nightlight tonight.)