Synopsis
Mirah performs in and around a rural landscape as dancers in pale, loose-fitting costumes move through fields, woods, and a lakeside setting. The imagery shifts between quiet pastoral scenes and increasingly animated group choreography, giving the clip the feel of a modern folk ritual. A cabin, natural surroundings, unusual costuming, and a hooded drummer add to its dreamlike atmosphere. Rather than following a conventional narrative, "The Forest" creates an impressionistic world where the performers seem to merge with the landscape.
Factoids & Trivia
- The song comes from Mirah's 2009 album "(a)spera," released by K Records.
- The video was filmed at Mirah's family farm in northeastern Pennsylvania, giving its outdoor imagery a personal connection to the singer.
- The choreography was created by Faye Driscoll. The project was described as Driscoll's first music video choreography assignment.
- Several dancers from New York City's downtown performance community appear in the clip, including Nikki Zialcita, Vanessa Anspaugh, Aretha Aoki, Mary Reade, and Devynn Emory. Many of Driscoll's dance students also took part.
- The cast includes Sara Jaffe, formerly the guitarist of Erase Errata, and Mindy Abovitz, editor in chief of Tom Tom Magazine.
- Abovitz appears as the hooded figure playing drums, a detail highlighted by Tom Tom Magazine when the video was featured there.
- The video premiered through Pitchfork.tv in 2010 and was subsequently noted by Stereogum among that week's top music videos.