In the new music video for his latest single “Only A Lifetime,” Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Finneas wanders through an empty aquarium, holding onto the calm he’s become comfortably used to while in isolation.
“A lot of people were pacing around their houses, praying for lockdown to be lifted, and waiting for the vaccine,” Finneas explained in a statement. “I had a sudden realization – I might really miss this calm time I had with my family and my girlfriend. I was trying to remind myself to stay present and stay engaged no matter what is going on.”
On the bridge of “Only A Lifetime,” he sings: “It’s family and friends and that’s the truth / The fountain doesn’t give you back your youth / It’s staying up too late at night and laughing under kitchen lights / So hard, you start to cry.”
The video was shot in one-take by frequent collaborator Sam Bennett on location at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. It opens with a dedication to his family and features some special guests: his younger sister and close collaborator Billie Eilish and their parents.
“Only A Lifetime” appears on Optimist, Finneas’ recently shared debut album which offers a deep dive into the world of the songwriter and producer. The project sets apart his work as a collaborator for artists like Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Eilish – making room for a grand introduction of his own artistic vision.
“As a producer-artist, you never give yourself enough time to work on your own music,” Finneas explained of the project. “Unfortunately, nobody is going to boss me around and tell me to produce my own album except me.”
Finneas recently received nominations in each Big Four category ahead of the 2022 Grammy Awards including Best New Artist. He was also nominated this week for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes for “No Time To Time,” the new Bond theme song he created with Eilish and Hans Zimmer.