Candian pianist and composer Jean-Michel Blais has shared a new video for “Nostos (feat. Bufflo).” The video, directed by Jason Rodi and featuring drone footage by Antoine Leger, is populated by stark but beautiful arctic imagery, mirroring the deceptively complex minimalism of Blais’ piece. Blais’ debut album Il is out April 8 on Arts & Crafts, and is available to pre-order HERE.

Of the video and song, Blais says, “”In Greek literature nostos is a theme whereby a hero returns home by sea following a series of trials. The final section of James Joyce’s epic Ulysses is also titled ‘Nostos’ wherein the protagonist returns to a home he imagines hasn’t changed, or has it? Thematically, nostosrepresents a longing for the past, a nostalgia. In our times of climate change, when our environment is quickly becoming unfamiliar to us, what has become of that home? Oceans are raging, icebergs melting, sea levels rising… Is our longing for home, for a ‘return to the same,’ even possible? What are we longing for?”
Blais will be making is U.S. performance debut at the Rockwood Music Hall in New York City on April 28 at 7 pm, and entry is free. He will also be presenting a special virtual concert in honor of Piano Day (founded by Nils Frahm) on March 28.