Finn Keenan Channels Belfast Rave Culture in Kneecap’s 'Sayōnara' Music Video

​Finn Keenan is back with his second offering for Kneecap starring Jamie Lee O’Donnell, for their new single ’Sayōnara’  a collaboration with Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll.

Threaded through this personal journey is a reference to Belfast’s rave history. To represent the symbolic narrative of how illegal raves in the 90s weren’t just parties but powerful acts of defiance, places where divisions blurred and people came together in resistance. The spirit that runs through the film’s imagery, and Jamie-Lee taking the wheel of Kneecap’s pimped-out Land Rover like a rave pied piper, guiding the city into abandon and release.

Finn Keenan, director commented, "The intensity and ominous tone of Sayōnara reminded me of both the best nights out and the brutal days that followed. That’s what sparked the idea. But I wanted to turn a typical dance video on its head and focus on the aftermath and how the chemicals in your body change as the week progresses. I wanted to capture the visceral intensity of paranoia and intrusive thoughts. Somehow, that 'never again' anxiety of Monday slowly shifts by Friday into a 'Weekend is here. Monday will never happen again!' optimism.

Through conversations with the band, we also wanted to nod to Belfast’s rave history. In the 90s, raves weren’t just parties — they were acts of resistance, dangerous but vital spaces where Catholics and Protestants came to be together and dance. That spirit is what fuels the scene of Jamie Lee driving the pimped-up Kneecap Land Rover across the city — a kind of rave pied piper, spreading the idea that art, music, and creativity can break down the metaphorical walls which are often stronger than the physical ones. Pent up anger and frustration are released through dance instead of turning into hate.

Which is what the ludicrous end of the video is about. I wanted this end scene to be feral! Working with Jamie Lee made this possible. She’s one of the most open, vulnerable and fun people i’ve ever met. Working with her was incredible. We didn't have a choreographer so for the end dance we’d have a chat before each take and then she channelled her own stories and emotions into the performances, each one completely different than the last and each one genuinely left the crew speechless. It was an incredible thing to witness. She’s a powerhouse!

Massive thanks to RiffRaff for their support and to all the incredible cast and crew who created such a lovely vibe on set that meant everyone was comfortable doing some of the most bizarre stuff i’ve had to ask people to do on camera. And of course thank you once again to Kneecap for trusting me with this absolute pile of weird!"