GRAMMY-winning rock innovators OK Go return with their first single in over a decade, “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill,” the lead track from their upcoming album, And the Adjacent Possible. Premiered alongside a visually stunning music video on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the band once again proves their mastery of combining boundary-pushing visuals with poignant, introspective music.
Sonically, “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill” is a reflective anthem that balances the weight of realism with the necessity of hope. Frontman Damian Kulash explains the song as a response to today’s uncertainty: “It’s a tough time to be optimistic… What do we tell our children? That’s what this song is about: trying to be honest but keeping your head up at the same time.” The track’s heartfelt lyricism and driving instrumentation echo the spirit of resilience that has become a hallmark of OK Go’s music.
The accompanying music video elevates the track to a new level of creative brilliance. Featuring 64 videos displayed on 64 phones, the mosaic-style visual was meticulously crafted over eight days and more than a thousand takes. The end result is a breathtaking collage of movement and color, blending harmony and discord in a way that reflects the split-screen lives many of us navigate today. Directed by Kulash in collaboration with Chris Buongiorno (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew), the video captures the raw ingenuity and DIY ethos that OK Go is celebrated for.
Kulash describes the concept as “the most human, DIY version of a split screen that we could come up with.” Instead of relying on digital effects, the band painstakingly shot individual videos for each phone, creating a synchronized mosaic that mirrors the song’s themes of fragmentation and cohesion. This attention to detail and dedication to storytelling further solidifies OK Go’s status as pioneers in blending music and visual art.
And the Adjacent Possible, set for release later this year, marks OK Go’s first studio album in over a decade. This long-awaited project arrives after years of rigorous touring, personal milestones (including Kulash’s venture into filmmaking with The Beanie Bubble), and their ever-present commitment to innovation. Fans can expect the album to feature the band’s most diverse and accomplished collection of songs yet.
With nearly three decades of groundbreaking creativity under their belts, OK Go continues to redefine what it means to be a band in the 21st century. From encoding music onto strands of DNA to their award-winning music videos, their legacy as fearless experimenters is unmatched. “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill” serves as a poignant reminder of their ability to combine thought-provoking artistry with bold, imaginative execution, leaving fans eager for what’s to come.
