Steven Wilson: Routine

Among the hundreds of songs I have written over the years, Routine holds a particularly special place. It unfolds as a profoundly sad tale of loss and denial, but by its end the clouds lift and there is a sense of acceptance, at least. Having collaborated with her on 3 previous videos, I sensed from the moment I wrote it that it was destined for Jess to shape into something remarkable. Even then, nothing could have prepared me for the organic beauty and raw power of the film she created—a painstaking labor of love that stretched over months. When we perform the song live, I look out at the audience and see people swept away by the fusion of music and animation. To find poetry and beauty in sadness is, I believe, a wonderful thing. - Steven Wilson