B-Side Guys

Collaboration transcends medium boundaries when Jon Lindsay and Chris Walldorf transform musical partnership into cinematic statement through high-concept visual storytelling. “Dear Assassin” operates as both standout track from the acclaimed “Big Stage” LP and sophisticated short film, proving how indie-pop ambition can expand beyond traditional song boundaries into multimedia territory. Lindsay’s theatrical alt-pop vision requires visual accompaniment that matches its emotional urgency and conceptual scope.

Walldorf’s background editing Netflix’s “Night Stalker” and connections to Danny McBride’s Rough House Pictures inform the video’s dark stylistic approach, creating visual language that supports rather than competes with Lindsay’s songwriting sophistication. The surreal, high-concept elements channel the track’s examination of ambition and identity through imagery that feels both contemporary and timeless, avoiding music video clichés that would diminish the song’s impact.

The “Big Stage” album context explains the track’s particular focus on spectacle and modern life performance, themes that translate naturally into visual medium through Walldorf’s directorial choices. Lindsay’s indie-pop approach benefits from this multimedia expansion, allowing his theatrical sensibilities to find expression through multiple creative channels simultaneously.

Lindsay’s broader media presence—including writing Danny McBride’s “Cool Times” theme song for upcoming Don Gato tequila campaign—suggests artist understanding how contemporary creative careers require diversification across platforms while maintaining core artistic identity. “Dear Assassin” demonstrates how music videos can function as artistic statements rather than mere promotional tools.

The longtime creative partnership between Lindsay and Walldorf produces work that feels genuinely collaborative rather than hierarchical, with visual and musical elements serving shared conceptual vision. Their ability to create “big budget scope and cinematic flair” while maintaining indie sensibility establishes them as creative team capable of bridging underground authenticity with mainstream accessibility.

“Dear Assassin” succeeds because it treats visual storytelling as essential component of musical expression rather than afterthought, recognizing that some artistic visions require multiple media to achieve full realization.